Coronavirus update: 2 more cases at Western State; new measures at Washington stores
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Wednesday, March 25.
Updated 8 p.m.
As of Wednesday evening, a total of five Western State Hospital employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the Department of Social and Health Services.
That’s an additional two employees from earlier in the day (see below). The hospital also has two patients who have tested positive for the virus.
The hospital has 2,700 state and contracted staff members.
In addition to other COVID-19 protocols, the hospital has increased cleaning of high-touch areas and limited patient travel outside of the hospital.
New cases at Nativity House
This week, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at Tacoma’s Nativity House overnight homeless shelter increased — going from one to four.
Meanwhile, days before the new positive cases came to light, shelter staff moved nearly 60 vulnerable individuals into a downtown hotel.
“We’re being careful,” said director Denny Hunthausen of the move, which he said will help protect older individuals from the virus while creating additional space at the shelter for social distancing.
So far, Hunthausen said, Catholic Community Services — which operates Nativity House — is paying for the rooms at a potential cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Eventually, he’s hoping emergency funding from the state or county will cover the cost.
Hunthausen also acknowledged that, despite the shelter’s best efforts, the number of positive COVID-19 cases might increase in the coming days and weeks.
The three new positive cases, which were first reported by KNKX’s Will James, come not long after Nativity House became the first homeless shelter in Washington to announce a positive result for COVID-19.
According to Hunthausen, of the three new cases, one is associated with an individual the shelter had already quarantined due to possible exposure. The two others, Hunthausen said, “were overnight guests who sought medical treatment as symptoms developed.” All three of the new cases are men, Hunthausen said. He described one of the individuals as younger and said the other two were “in their late 50s or early 60s.”
DNR to close trails, day-use areas
Updated at 1:55 p.m.
On Thursday, the Washington state Department of Natural Resources will close the nearly 6 million acres it manages to the public.
That includes trailheads, trails, roads, campgrounds, day-use areas and dispersed recreational lands.
The closure will last through at least April 8, and officials will assess the situation then and determine if the closure should be extended.
Now closed will be popular hiking trails like Mailbox Peak, Rattlesnake Mountain, Mount Si, Poo Poo Point, Mount Teneriffe, Little Si and West Tiger Mountains, among many others. (Check out a map of the closures here).
KeyBank offers options for clients facing financial hardships
Updated 1:45 p.m.
KeyBank has taken steps to support clients facing economic hardship due to the spread of COVID-19.
In addition to its current financial programs, KeyBank will defer payment for at least 90 days for clients facing economic hardship due to the novel coronavirus. All consumer credit products such as mortgage, home equity, student, auto, lines of credit and credit card can be considered for this relief.
The deferral will include both principal and interest payments for 90 days, upon client request. There will be no negative reporting to credit bureaus. Interest will continue to accrue during deferral. Clients can contact their local branch or 1-800-KEY2YOU (539-2968). TDDY 1-800-539-8336.
KeyBank is also offering a variety of solutions that will lower borrowing costs for small businesses including the option to defer payments for 90 days. Business owners affected by COVID-19 are asked to contact their relationship manager or 1-888-KEY4BIZ (539-4249) to discuss relief options for their business.
The KeyBank Foundation also announced several steps it will take to support and augment employee donations and volunteer efforts, including an initial $1 million commitment to support vulnerable individuals, small businesses, and neighborhoods.
KeyBank will temporarily close of certain locations of its branch network, effective March 30. Branches that remain open will continue to operate as drive-thru and appointment only in order to serve our clients’ needs. We also continue to serve our clients 24/7 through online and mobile.
WSDOT reducing Amtrak Cascades service
Updated at 11:35 a.m.
WSDOT is reducing service of Amtrak Cascades trains due to a severe drops in ridership,. Two daily roundtrips between Seattle and Portland are the only Cascades trains that will continue to operate in Washington.
The Seattle-Portland evening trains 507 and 508 were suspended as of March 21 and beginning March 26, trains 517 and 518 also will be suspended until further notice. The trains that will continue to operate between Portland and Seattle include trains 500, 501, 504, and 505. View schedules for those trains at www.AmtrakCascades.com by clicking on the Buy Tickets button. There is no purchase necessary to view schedules.
All Amtrak Cascades trains north of Seattle have already been suspended, in conjunction with the closure of the Vancouver, British Columbia train station by Canadian officials. Daily Cascades thruway buses continue to offer service between Seattle, Everett, Mt. Vernon and Bellingham. Amtrak long-distance trains continue to connect Seattle, Edmonds and Everett.
The Amtrak long-distance train, the Coast Starlight, will continue to connect Seattle, Portland, Eugene, and other cities in between via one daily roundtrip.
All trains will continue to stop at all stations between Seattle and Eugene. In Olympia/Lacey and Kelso only the platforms will be available, with no access to the station buildings. Passengers can still board and detrain at these stations, but services normally offered by a volunteer staff, such as ticketing and boarding assistance, are not available at this time.
Amtrak Cascades also suspended onboard food and beverage services. Passengers are welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages onboard the trains.
Two more Western State Hospital employees test positive
Updated at 8:15 a.m.
Two employees who work on separate wards at Western State Hospital have tested positive for COVID-19, the Department of Social and Health Services announced Wednesday.
All hospital staff members who have been in close contact with these employees have been notified. Last week, DSHS announced that two patients and one staff member, who had not worked during the incubation period, had tested positive for the virus. Since that announcement, one patient and Western employee have both recovered. The other patient remains hospitalized locally.
Western State Hospital follows protocols for infectious diseases as a matter of routine. Due to COVID-19, the hospital has also implemented restrictions for patient and staff movement between wards and screens all staff prior to their shift for symptoms or exposure to the virus.
Anyone who visited Western State Hospital between March 19 and 21 should monitor for symptoms. If exhibiting any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they should contact their health care provider for further direction.
Plexiglass sneeze guards coming to QFC, Fred Meyer check stands
Updated at 8:15 a.m.
Kroger stores QFC and Fred Meyer are installing plexiglass partitions at many cash registers to further promote physical distancing.
Many of stores are beginning the installation process this week and every check lane — including pharmacy counters and Starbucks registers — should have a partition within the next several weeks. They are also installing educational floor decals to promote physical distancing at check lanes and other counters.
Associates are permitted to wear protective masks and gloves. The stores advocating to government officials for help securing a priority place in line for all grocery workers — after health care workers— to have access to protective masks and gloves.
Deaths reach 123 in Washington State
Updated at 8:15 a.m.
COVID-19 has caused 123 deaths in Washington state as of March 24. There are now 2,469 confirmed cases in the state.
Those represent an increase from Monday, when the tally was 110 dead and 2,221 cases.
King County continues to be the hardest hit with 1,277 cases and 94 deaths reported as of Tuesday. Snohomish County has the second-most cases in the state with 614, up from 519 on Monday. It has now recorded 16 deaths, up from 11. Pierce County has 138 cases and one death.
Since the start of the outbreak, 34,181 coronavirus tests have been conducted, so about 7% have come back positive.
Mud Bay pet supply stores seek 100 workers to fill temporary ‘Helper’ jobs
Updated at 8:15 a.m.
Mud Bay pet supply retailer is hiring 100 seasonal workers for its stores in Washington state.
According to a news release from the retailer, “The new position, Mud Bay Helpers, will be responsible for greeting people, carrying out purchases, fulfilling curbside delivery orders and stocking shelves.”
The retailer said it “hopes to employ people who are currently out of work due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and is actively reaching out to people in affected industries within Washington and Oregon.”
The seasonal positions could eventually transition into full-time, traditional roles within the employee-owned pet supply retailer. To apply, go to mudbay.com/ and click CAREERS.
This week, the retailer also started a curbside delivery program, where customers can call ahead, order and pay over the phone, and later have the order delivered to their vehicle curbside.
Job searches now temporarily optional for those seeking jobless aid
Updated at 8:15 a.m.
On Tuesday, the state Employment Security Department relaxed rules requiring those seeking jobless aid to also actively go out and seek work.
According to ESD, “the job search requirement to receive unemployment insurance benefits was made optional on Tuesday, another in a series of measures by Gov. Jay Inslee and the state Employment Security Department to increase access to unemployment benefits for workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The agency added, “This measure will be retroactive to March 8 and will continue until further notice.”
The task of actively seeking work in Washington state grew increasingly difficult amid the coronavirus outbreak and was made more difficult with the governor’s “stay-at-home” order, limiting travel only to essential trips or to essential jobs.
“Our top priorities in this crisis are to get benefits out to eligible Washingtonians as quickly as possible, help more people become eligible and help employers who are hiring get the staff they need right now,” Employment Security Department Commissioner Suzi LeVine said in a news release.
“Waiving the job search requirement helps make it easier for people to use the benefit.”
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 8:18 AM with the headline "Coronavirus update: 2 more cases at Western State; new measures at Washington stores."
