Coronavirus updates: Inslee says 2 million masks, 12 million gloves, more supplies on the way
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Friday, March 20.
INSLEE SAYS MILLIONS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES ARRIVING THIS WEEKEND
Updated 5 p.m.
In a televised press conference Friday evening, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced that emergency medical supplies are expected to arrive in the state this weekend.
Here is what the state is expecting to receive from the national stockpile:
▪ 1.6 million N-95 respirators (face masks for airborne injections)
▪ 560,000 surgical masks
▪ 12 million disposable gloves
▪ 650,000 disposable gowns
▪ 74,000 canisters of disinfectant wipes
WASHINGTON STATE COVID-19 CASES AT 1,524 WITH 83 DEATHS
Updated 4 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Health reported Friday the state is up to 1,524 COVID-19 cases with 83 deaths since the outbreak began.
That is 148 more cases and nine more deaths than had been reported Thursday.
King County has 793 confirmed cases with 67 deaths, Snohomish County has 385 cases with eight deaths and Pierce County has 83 cases with one death.
There are 133 cases on the DOH’s website that have not been assigned to a county.
About 93% of the 23,243 suspected cases that have been tested in the state have come back negative.
NO STAY-AT-HOME ORDER FOR WASHINGTON RESIDENTS FRIDAY
Updated 3:30 p.m.
Gov. Jay Inslee will not issue a stay-at-home order or anything similar Friday, his Chief of Staff David Postman said.
It is unclear if or when Inslee will make such a proclamation.
“It’s unlikely that’s what in place today will carry us through to the end of this outbreak,” Postman said in reference to the emergency orders the governor has already issued.
“The question is, ‘When do you do it, how do you do it and how much of the state do you cover in it?’ Those are the things that we balance every day.”
California’s 40 million people were all but restricted to their homes Thursday, and governors of New York and Illinois issued similar decrees Friday that will keep citizens indoors.
“We’ve done a lot of the things you would see in those California counties in terms of what’s closed and what’s open,” Postman said. “The messaging was quite different. The shelter-in-place is very powerful and I think it does drive home a message to the individual that it’s about them. ‘We’re closing these businesses to protect people inside those businesses, but also to stop people from going there.’
“We don’t feel it’s necessary to take that next step (Friday) in terms of shutting down more businesses. We are generally all going for the same goal, which is reducing the number of people who are coming into contact with other people.”
DRIVE-THRU TESTING SITE COMING TO TACOMA DOME
Updated 3 p.m.
A drive-thru COVID-19 testing site will be set up at the Tacoma Dome from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. beginning Saturday, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department announced Friday afternoon.
Testing is not for the general public.
The special testing site will be limited to people who are showing symptoms (fever, cough shortness of breath) and are first responders, emergency response, healthcare professionals, critical infrastructure employees (i.e.: public works, grocery stores, restaurants, homeless shelters and gas stations), or are in a high-risk group (people who are older than 60, have underlying conditions or are pregnant).
Testing will continue through Wednesday and participants are required to complete an online survey to determine eligibility.
PIERCE COUNTY CONFIRMS 8 NEW CASES
Updated 3 p.m.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department confirmed eight new cases of COVID-19 in the county Friday afternoon, bringing the total to 83 cases, including Wednesday’s first reported death.
There have been 1,695 people tested in the county since the coronavirus outbreak began.
East Pierce County (one new case), Gig Harbor (three), Northeast Pierce County (one), Puyallup (one) and Tacoma (two) each had new cases reported.
GOOD TO GO! CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTERS CLOSE
Updated 2:45 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Transportation will temporarily close its Good To Go! walk-in customer service centers.
The closures begin Sunday, and will remain in effect until further notice, the DOT said in a statement Friday.
Customers who use the Seattle, Bellevue and Gig Harbor locations are encouraged to manage their accounts online at MyGoodToGo.com or over the phone. The call center will remain open and live representatives will be available.
Customers who want to pay tolls using can do so online or over the phone through a prepaid debit card, or can mail in a cashier’s check to P.O. Box 300326, Seattle, WA 98103.
Any customers concerned about paying tolls on time can learn more about the penalty forgiveness program online, and qualifying customers can have late fees and civil penalties dismissed when they pay their existing tolls.
ZAC BROWN BAND CANCELS TACOMA DOME APPEARANCE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH RESCHEDULED
Updated 2:30 p.m.
The Zac Brown Band announced Friday afternoon on Twitter they would “not move forward with all remaining 2020 tour dates,” which includes their scheduled concert in the Tacoma Dome on Oct. 17.
“We are deeply disappointed this has happened,” the band wrote in a statement. “Touring is our life blood and performing live for our fans is the best part of this job. Bottom line though, we want to take every precaution to put the health and safety of our fans and crew first.”
Tickets purchased through Ticketmaster will be fully refunded automatically and no additional action is needed, the statement says.
The Tacoma Dome also announced Friday the Five Finger Death Punch show planned for April 23 will be rescheduled for Oct. 18. Tickets purchased for the April event will be honored in October.
TACOMA TO DELIVER FREE MEALS BY BUS, PUYALLUP EXPANDS MEAL PROGRAM TO 22 SCHOOLS
Updated 2 p.m.
Two Pierce County school districts are expanding their free meal programs as schools remain closed due to coronavirus.
Beginning Monday, Tacoma Public Schools will deliver meals as part of a “Meals-on-Bus-Wheels” program.
“We’ll have bus drivers going into different neighborhoods,” superintendent Carla Santorno said Thursday during an interview with City of Tacoma’s CityLine.
Families will be able to pick up meals and hard copies of learning packets for students at the bus stops. More details on bus routes and pickup times are coming. The TPS website has the latest information.
The 10 middle schools in the district will also provide breakfast and lunch for pickup between 10 a.m. and noon. Students do not have to qualify for free and reduced lunch to receive meals.
TPS reports it has served 15,336 meals through the program so far.
The Puyallup School District’s free meal program, which was halted Thursday and Friday amid coronavirus fears, will relaunch Monday and service will expand to all 22 elementary schools in the district.
The district previously offered meal services at four of its elementary schools.
Pickup times will be between 11 a.m. and noon.
“As our meal services increased, our social distancing in our kitchen prep areas had to be redesigned,” the district said in a statement Thursday. “We are also creating call lists to be able to backfill staff for vacancies as necessary to allow us to be able to continue service, and we are creating contingency plans in the event of a shelter in place order.”
For the latest updates, visit the PSD website.
CITY OF LAKEWOOD CLOSES LOBBY AREAS
Updated 2 p.m.
The public will no longer be able to access the lobby areas at Lakewood City Hall, Lakewood Police Department of Lakewood Municipal Court.
”The city is still operating but we have seen a significant decline in people coming in,” officials tweeted Friday.
All three agencies can still be reached via telephone. Call City Hall at 253-589-2489, the Police Department at 253-830-5000 or Municipal Court at 253-512-2258.
TACOMA’S NON-PROFIT CINEMA CLOSES, LAYS OFF ALL EMPLOYEES
Updated 12:45 p.m.
The Grand Cinema has announced it will close its doors and lay off all employees at the end of business Friday.
Tacoma’s non-profit cinema, as a ticket-driven organization, has no date set for reopening as coronavirus concerns continue to shut down local entertainment outlets.
Philip Cowan, The Grand’s executive director, said the cinema will get people back to work “as soon as the situation allows it.”
“We will get everybody back to work as soon as the situation allows it,” The Grand’s executive director Philip Cowan said.
“Long term, we’ll be fine,” he said. “Having to lay off the employees is just horrible. But if we still had to pay people, then over time then, yeah, that would cause a big financial problem. But if we cut our expenses, then we can make it for a while.
“We’re cutting any kind of expense we can. There are different subscriptions, dues, cutting our trash pickups, and, you know, just all those kinds of things that you do recurring.”
The Grand’s 253 Short Film Competition – in which competitors are given 72 hours to produce a film that is no longer than 253 seconds – is set to take place from April 23-26 with a showing planned for My 8.
Cowan hasn’t pulled the plug, but isn’t optimistic the event will remain as scheduled.
“We will be doing this competition,” Cowan said. “It may just be punted until the summer.”
The Tacoma Film Festival, scheduled for Oct. 8-15, is the other big local film event on the calendar for The Grand this year.
“Two weeks ago, I didn’t think we would be shutting down, and now we are shut down,” he said. “I would certainly hope that by October that we’re not even thinking about any of this anymore.”
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS NEGOTIATES FREE CALLS, REDUCED DIGITAL COSTS
Updated 12:15 p.m.
Though the Washington State Department of Corrections suspended visitation and limited other events last week, it is working with vendors to provide alternative free and reduced cost forms of communication to the incarcerated population.
“The COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented in our state and around the world,” Corrections Secretary Steve Sinclair said in a release. “We understand how important communication is to our incarcerated population, their friends and families in these uncertain times and we’re proud to be able to offer additional communication opportunities to them either for free or at a reduced cost.”
Through Global Tel Link, which partners with correctional facilities through the ConnectNetwork, the DOC will provide two free phone calls of up to five minutes each every week to incarcerated individuals until April 14, when options will be evaluated again.
Incarcerated individuals will also be able to access JPay digital services at discounted rates beginning Friday, including being able to receive inbound VideoGrams at a reduced cost, one free video visit credit per JPay account and two free stamps (or credits) each week credited to individuals’ JPay accounts.
“While we know this is not the same as seeing friends and family in person, we hope that it helps alleviate some of the concerns regarding visitation being suspended at this time,” Sinclair said. “We’ll be reviewing visitation, programming and other suspended activities as this situation evolves.”
As of Friday morning, the DOC has three confirmed COVID-19 cases reported by employees and one reported by a contractor at the Peninsula Work Release. No confirmed cases among incarcerated individuals, or individuals on supervision or work release have been reported.
GRAHAM FIREFIGHTER TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
Updated 12 p.m.
Graham Fire and Rescue issued a statement Friday morning confirming a firefighter in its ranks has tested positive for COVID-19.
The firefighter tested positive after an “off-duty community exposure,” the statement says, is under home quarantine and is recovering.
PENLIGHT SUSPENDS CUSTOMER DISCONNECTS, MAY WAIVE LATE FEES
Updated 11:30 a.m.
The Peninsula Light Company announced in a release Friday it would temporarily suspend customer disconnects, and may waive late fees “for at least the next month.”
“We will continue to read meters and send bills,” the release says. “Members who are able should continue to pay what they can in order to avoid building up a large balance.”
PenLight will continue to offer assistance programs including payment arrangements and qualifying discounts, the release says, and continue to partner with community organizations to help support families in need.
The company has also approved temporary adjustments to its Project Help program, including extending the program to the end of may, increasing funding and adjusting application data. Individuals who have been recently laid off are eligible to apply for assistance.
TAX DAY PUSHED BACK
Updated 9:30 a.m.
The deadline to file taxes has been extended by the Internal Revenue Service from April 15 to July 15, Treasury Sec. Steve Mnuchin announced Friday morning on Twitter.
Mnuchin’s tweet says President Donald Trump gave the directive.
“All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties,” the tweet says.
STATE RECEIVES THOUSANDS OF TESTING KITS, FACE MASKS
Updated 8 a.m.
Thousands of COVID-19 testing kits and other essential medical supplies are being provided to Washington state, state officials announced Thursday evening.
The Washington State Department of Health will receive 8,000 testing kits from the federal government in addition to more than 1 million protective masks — 426,690 N-95 respirators, or face masks for airborne injections, and 662,103 surgical masks, to protect against larger droplets.
The DOH will distribute the supplies to health agencies in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties, which were collectively tending to more than 81% of the state’s 1,376 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Thursday afternoon.
The testing kits are intended for high-risk populations, including those over 60 years old, those with pre-existing medical conditions, and healthcare providers and first responders.
PIERCE COUNTY CASES JUMP TO 75
Updated 8 a.m.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department reported 19 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the county’s total to 75, up from Wednesday’s 56.
The county’s first death was reported Wednesday.
There had been 1,430 total Pierce County residents tested as of Thursday’s 2 p.m. update, with 19 new positive cases confirmed.
Since testing began, the county has confirmed cases in Bonney Lake (one), East Pierce County (one), the Gig Harbor area (seven), Lakewood (five), Northeast Pierce County (two), Puyallup (15), South Pierce County (six), Tacoma (31) and University Place (seven).
HOSPITAL SHIP WILL SAIL TO WASHINGTON OR CALIFORNIA
Updated 8 a.m.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Friday morning the U.S. Navy hospital ship Mercy will sail next week for either Washington state or California to offer relief to medical systems dealing with a high volume of patients during the coronavirus outbreak.
“I’ve spoken to both the governors of Washington state and California,” Esper said on the Fox & Friends television show. “We hope to deploy, aim to deploy, the Mercy early, early next week and get her underway to one of those two states to help out as well.”
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Tuesday requesting the ship be dispatched to Washington, citing the need for medical capacity, staff and equipment to the state.
Washington reported the first confirmed coronavirus case in the U.S. in January, and had 1,376 confirmed cases and 74 deaths as of Thursday afternoon.
“It is clear that our medical capacity is the first to be impacted and is now the most severely challenged in the nation,” the letter reads. “While we are taking very aggressive measures to slow the spread of this deadly disease among our vulnerable citizens, it is becoming clear that our hospitals will be overwhelmed soon. … We anticipate that our hospitals will be in crisis by the end of this month.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom projected Thursday the virus could infect 25.6 million people in the state — or more than half its population — over the next two months. California had 675 confirmed cases and 16 deaths as of Wednesday.
The Mercy, which is based in San Diego, is one of two hospital ships that will be dispatched to U.S. cities to aid hospitals overwhelmed by coronavirus patients. The Comfort, based in Norfolk, Va., will be sent to New York in April.
The Mercy has 80 intensive care unit beds, can carry up to 1,000 patients at a time, and has a blood bank that can hold up to 5,000 units.
Because patient beds are close together, the ship would be used to care for trauma patients while local hospitals focus on the coronavirus outbreak.
The ship would likely take in “patients who are already hospitalized, or who have come into an emergency room, and then they would be transported to the hospital ship so that that would open up capacity at the civilian hospital for a COVID-19 patient,” Navy Surgeon General Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham told reporters during a Pentagon press briefing Thursday.
FUNERALS BANNED IN WASHINGTON STATE
Updated 8 a.m.
Funerals and memorial services are now included on the list of gatherings prohibited by Washington state’s social distancing order, according to a report from The Seattle Times.
The Washington State Department of Licensing clarified the social distancing proclamation to funeral directors via email Thursday.
“This statewide closure of entertainment, leisure and non-essential services includes funerals,” the email reads.
Weeks Funeral Homes president and funeral director Russ Weeks told the Times many families had already opted to postpone services amid coronavirus concerns. Weeks Funeral Homes has funeral homes and mortuaries in Enumclaw, Buckley and Tacoma.
“We’ve always been trained — and I grew up in the funeral business — you never say no,” Weeks said. “You do whatever you can to do what the family wants. But we have to say: ‘No, I’m sorry, we want to help you but we can’t.’ ”
SOUND TRANSIT REDUCES LIGHT RAIL, SOUNDER SERVICE
Updated 8 a.m.
Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff said in a statement Thursday there have been “significant declines in ridership” of the Sounder commuter trains, Link light rail and ST Express bus services during the coronavirus outbreak.
At the beginning of the week, total ridership was down about 69 percent, the statement says, leading to Sound Transit’s decision to reduce service beginning March 23.
Operations and maintenance staff are also staying home in higher numbers due to the outbreak.
“The changes that we are implementing respond to our dramatically reduced ridership while still preserving reliable service and maintaining ample flexibility for social distancing by riders,” the statement says.
▪ Sounder South changes: Beginning Monday afternoon, weekday service will be reduced from 13 round-trips to eight.
Daily northbound trips canceled include the 1502 and 1506 departures from Lakewood, and the 1516 and 1522 departures from Tacoma. Southbound trips canceled include the 1503, 1509, 1517, 1519, and 1523 departures from Seattle.
▪ Sounder North changes: Beginning Monday afternoon, weekday service will be reduced from four round trips to two. The 1701 and 1705 departures from Everett and the 1700 and 1704 departures from Seattle will be canceled.
▪ Link light rail changes: Closures of downtown Seattle stations will begin Friday evening and continue over the weekend.
Shuttle buses will connect riders from downtown stations to SODO stations and the Capitol Hill station during the weekend closure and arrive every 7-10 minutes.
Trains will arrive at 14-minute intervals by Monday.
▪ ST Express bus changes: Buses operated by King County Metro will reduce service by a total of 15 percent. Details about specific route cancellations can be found on Sount Transit’s website.
Pierce Transit and the Tacoma Link services have not changed, though Pierce Transit has implemented a distancing measure to protect bus drivers by roping off the first two rows directly behind the driver’s seat on both sides of the bus.
MARINERS SHUT DOWN SPRING TRAINING FACILITY
Updated 8 a.m.
Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto announced Thursday the club’s decision to shut down its spring training facility in Peoria, Ariz.
Players have been instructed to return to their offseason homes.
“We decided (Wednesday) afternoon to just close the completely,” Dipoto said. “Now we are down to a very skeleton staff of clubhouse personnel trying to get everything locked up, and we will see how this thing plays out.
“But, for the foreseeable future, we’re not planning on any activity here in Arizona, and the players have effectively been asked to head home and be safe.”
When MLB announced it would suspend spring training camps and organized on-field workouts last week, but would permit players in big league camp to continue to use their facilities and work out individually or in small groups, most of Seattle’s qualifying players and staff members opted to stay.
That number dwindled from 39 players on the 40-man roster deciding to stay as of Friday, to just 28 by Monday morning. This week, the remaining players broke into small groups of about 10 apiece and had workout sessions of about 90 minutes that were staggered to avoid overlap.
“As we got to the point (Wednesday) where we pulled the plug, there were about 10 or 12 guys that were actually coming in and taking advantage of the workout time,” he said.
The Mariners had also grown more concerned about the idea of group gatherings of any sort, Dipoto said, following Wednesday’s news that a Reds staff member based in nearby Goodyear had tested positive for COVID-19. The Yankees, who conduct their spring workouts in Florida, have had two minor league players test positive for the virus.
Though no Mariners have been tested or shown symptoms — Dipoto said the teams medical personnel check in with players daily — the club still decided shutting down until further directives are given from the league was the appropriate choice.
MLS CONSIDERING DECEMBER CHAMPIONSHIP
Updated 8 a.m.
MLS announced Thursday it would postpone its season further in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guideline to limit events to fewer than 50 people for eight weeks.
“MLS remains focused on playing the entire 2020 season and is evaluating all options,” the statement reads.
This could include playing the MLS Cup in December.
NHL SEATTLE DEFERRING PAYMENTS DUE IN NEXT 3 MONTHS
Updated 8 a.m.
NHL Seattle CEO Tod Leiweke announced in a statement Thursday the organization wwill defer payments due in April, May and June for fans who purchased premium seating. General seat selection will begin at a later date.
The statement also says NHL Seattle will “look for the right time” to reveal its team name and brand.
“We recognize the excitement around this, and we appreciate your patience,” the statement reads.
UW CANCELS ATHLETIC EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR SPRING QUARTER
Updated 8 a.m.
The University of Washington announced Thursday evening it will cancel all athletic activities and events during spring quarter, which ends June 5.
The football program’s pro day and spring game are among the high-profile cancellations. UW’s pro day was scheduled for March 31, open spring practice for April 1 and the spring game for April 25.
“Department leadership and the medical team will continue to assess and monitor the situation and be ready to make appropriate decisions based on guidance from health officials about resuming athletic-related events and activities,” Thursday’s statement from the university reads.
UW announced Wednesday it would hold all spring quarter classes online.
The Pac-12 canceled all spring sporting practices, events and championships last week.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 8:15 AM with the headline "Coronavirus updates: Inslee says 2 million masks, 12 million gloves, more supplies on the way."
