549 New Coronavirus Cases In Washington; No New Deaths

SEATTLE, WA — Another 549 coronavirus cases were confirmed in Washington on Sunday, while no new deaths were added to the state's toll, according to the latest update from the state Department of Health.

At least 63,072 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Washington since the pandemic began, while at least 1,688 people have died after contracting COVID-19.

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Hiring slows as pandemic's scope lengthens

Hiring across the U.S. slowed during July as the nation's coronavirus outbreak worsened and the long-term economic impact of the pandemic became clearer, the Associated Press reported.

The country added 1.8 million jobs last month, a decline from the previous two months, and nowhere near the level needed to make up for the 22 million jobs lost in March and April.

Unemployment fell to 10.2 percent, higher than any figure that was recorded during the Great Recession of 2008-09. Even as the country reopens some sectors, dampened consumer confidence could continue to hamper job growth, the AP reported.

Read the full story here.

Washington's Latinos sound alarm over high infection rates

Politicians, public health officials and community leaders have struggled to address the high rates of coronavirus infections among Latinos in Washington, who make up 43 percent of the state's positive cases despite being just 13 percent of Washington's population.

Likely factors include housing discrimination, poverty and health care inequities, the Seattle Times reported. Many work in construction or the service industry, and live in sometimes-crowded, multigenerational homes where it is difficult to self-isolate.

Until a vaccine arrives, local organizations and leaders are trying to support the Latino population by holding weekly webinars in Spanish and hiring Spanish-speaking leaders to educate residents about virus prevention, the Times reported.

Read more at the Seattle Times.

Total coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths by county:

The above numbers are provided by the state Department of Health, and some numbers differ from the totals provided separately by county health agencies.

This article originally appeared on the Seattle Patch