Coronavirus updates: TPCHD to distribute 1,400 test kits; state has 6,966 cases, 284 deaths
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Friday, April 3.
STATE CONFIRMS 6,966 COVID-19 CASES, 284 DEATHS
Updated 4:15 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Health reported 381 new COVID-19 cases and 22 deaths Friday.
Statewide totals are up to 6,966 cases and 284 deaths.
King County continues to be the hardest hit, with 2,711 cases and 188 deaths, while Snohomish County has 1,317 cases and 38 deaths and Pierce County has 571 cases and seven deaths.
Seven more counties, including Benton (136), Clark (122), Island (119), Skagit (150), Spokane (177), Whatcom (127) and Yakima (238), also have reported more than 100 confirmed cases.
Nearly 82,600 people in Washington have been tested, with the positive cases still hovering around 8%.
HERE’S HOW TPCHD PLANS TO DISTRIBUTE TEST KITS IN STORAGE
Updated 4 p.m.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has released its plan for distributing 1,400 COVID-19 test kits left over from a drive-thru testing event more than a week ago.
The kits were in storage until Wednesday when FEMA, which supplied the kits, released them for local testing.
“Our goal is to use the strong systems that exist in our community and provide tests where the people need them most,” the health department said in an update Thursday.
The kits will be distributed these smaller groups around the county:
▪ Long-term care facilities with outbreaks
▪ First responders
▪ Clinics and testing sites in rural locations
▪ Community Health Care clinics
▪ Puyallup Tribe
There will not be another drive-thru testing site like the one hosted at the Tacoma Dome, TPCHD spokesperson Steve Metcalf said. There were 996 people tested at that site from March 25-28, with 2% testing positive.
TACOMA BUSINESSES TURNING TO GOFUNDME DURING COVID-19 SHUTDOWN
Updated 3:30 p.m.
With Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order extended through May 4, some Tacoma businesses have turned to GoFundMe for financial support.
Campaigns range from one created for the employees of The Grand Cinema to one for the baristas at Bluebeard Coffee.
According to The New York Times, coronavirus-related campaigns on the GoFundMe site went up 60% between March 20-24 from 22,000 to 35,000.
Locally, there are mixed emotions about how GoFundMe has become a private social safety net.
Wendell Ratliff, a projectionist at The Grand, said the campaign was created to help employees with expenses like rent, but it has been a trying process.
“It is really challenging that the need for GoFundMe even exists,” Ratliff said. “The future looks potentially bright with the response and the care that the government will take with a lot of people who are laid off due to COVID-19, but it is really frustrating to see that we weren’t prepared and that it has taken as long as it has.”
The Grand’s campaign had raised $5,285 of its $13,500 goal as of Friday afternoon.
“I think there are a lot of people out there who, without the support of GoFundMe campaigns in this sort of situation, the struggle would be even worse,” Ratliff said. “It is kind of bittersweet.”
Bluebeard owner Kevin McGlocklin put together the campaign for his employees. The coffee shop continues to offer some services, but front-of-house baristas are currently out of work.
McGlocklin gave employees an average week of pay and encouraged them to begin filing for unemployment when the shop halted normal operations, but wanted to provide more relief.
Bluebeard’s campaign had raised $1,238 of its $2,500 goal by Friday afternoon.
“I felt like the most responsible thing to do was to do a tip jar,” he said. “Any resources, especially immediate resources that could be available before people are going to be receiving the check or direct deposit from the federal response, would be appreciated.”
WASHINGTON MAN ARRESTED AFTER FLYING TO HAWAII
Updated 3 p.m.
An Olympia man was arrested Thursday after flying to Hawaii and breaking the state’s 14-day quarantine order, according to a Facebook post by the Kauai Police Department.
The 50-year-old man flew to Hawaii on an Alaska Airlines flight from Washington, where he was told about the quarantine order by airport security.
He did not arrange accommodations beforehand, and allegedly “refused to find suitable lodging.” He is expected to return to Washington on Friday.
He did not display signs or symptoms of the COVID-19 virus.
SOUND TRANSIT TO FURTHER REDUCE SERVICE
Updated 2:30 p.m.
Sound Transit announced Friday it would further reduce service on the Link light rail and ST Express bus routes in Pierce and King counties, citing lack of staffing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The system has seen an 85% reduction in ridership with the Link and ST Express routes, as well as the Sounder train, which are all already operating at reduced service.
Further changes will go into effect next week and allow for appropriate social distancing practices. Bus drivers may also prevent overcrowding by determining if the bus is too full to accept additional passengers.
Beginning Monday, light rail trains will run every 20 minutes instead of every 14 minutes. A revised schedule can be found on Sound Transit’s website.
Reductions to ST Express routes operated by Pierce Transit include routes 560, 566, 574, 577, 578, 590 and 594 running at a similar frequency to usual Sunday schedules. Routes 544, 567, 580/596 (Sounder connectors), 586, 592 and 595 have been canceled until further notice.
Reductions to ST Express routes operated by King County Metro include some cuts to routes 522, 542, 545 and 550. Route 554 is operating close to full service, while routes 541, 555 and 556 have been temporarily canceled. More information on cancellations can be found on Sound Transit’s website.
PIERCE COUNTY UP TO 571 COVID-19 CASES
Updated 1:30 p.m.
Pierce County reported 73 new COVID-19 cases Friday, bringing its total to 571 cases.
The county did not report additional deaths, and still has seven from Central Pierce County (one), Edgewood/Fife/Milton (one), Lakewood (three), Puyallup (one) and Sapanway (one).
Friday’s geographical totals are listed below with Thursday’s numbers in parenthesis:
▪ Bonney Lake: 14 (13)
▪ Central Pierce County: 33 (27)
▪ East Pierce County: 13 (11)
▪ Edgwood/Fife/Milton: 24 (21)
▪ Frederickson: 14 (13)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 36 (30)
▪ Graham: 15 (14)
▪ JBLM: Base numbers are no longer reported.
▪ Key Peninsula: 5 (4)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 13 (no change)
▪ Lakewood: 46 (39)
▪ Parkland: 25 (24)
▪ Puyallup: 30 (28)
▪ South Hill: 28 (26)
▪ South Pierce County: 8 (no change)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 6 (no change)
▪ Spanaway: 20 (19)
▪ Tacoma: 223 (184)
▪ University Place: 18 (no change)
University of Washington Virology Lab, Washington Public Health Lab, private labs and health care providers provide test results for Pierce County residents.
As of March 28, 5,299 residents had been tested. The Department of Health is still working to fix its reporting system. Until that happens, testing numbers will not be updated.
TACOMA REDUCING HOURS, SERVICES AT WASTE FACILITY
Updated 1 p.m.
The City of Tacoma’s Solid Waste Management will reduce hours at its Household Hazardous Waste Facility beginning Tuesday to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and conserve limited supplies.
The facility, located at 3510 S. Mullen St., will be closed Tuesdays through Thursdays and open Fridays through Mondays from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
The reduced hours will remain in effect until further notice.
Only essential household hazardous waste from residential customers will be allowed, including waste that cannot be safely stored at home until the facility resumes normal operations. Hazardous waste that can be stored temporarily at home, such as florescent bulbs or batteries, should be kept there.
For a list of acceptable items, visit the city’s website.
TARGET ANNOUNCES NEW RESTRICTIONS, SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Updated 12 p.m.
Target is taking additional measures to ensure the safety of shoppers and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The corporation’s nearly 1,900 locations will remain open, but beginning Saturday will limit the number of guests allowed in the store together.
“Occupancy limits will vary by location and be determined by the store’s specific square footage to enhance the average space per person and reduce the possibility of congestion,” Target said in a release.
Employees at Target’s stores and distribution centers will receive disposable face masks and gloves to wear while working. Each location will receive these materials within two weeks.
Target reduced its hours in March, closing closing all stores by 9 p.m.
The first hour of shopping every Wednesday is currently limited to elderly guests and those with underlying health conditions.
HERE’S WHEN YOU CAN EXPECT YOUR COVID-19 STIMULUS CHECK
Updated 11:30 a.m.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said Thursday Americans can start expecting to see direct deposits from the $2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package during the next two weeks.
“Within two weeks the first payments will be direct deposit into tax payers’ accounts,” Mnuchin said during a White House press briefing. “We want to get this money quickly into your hands.”
About 60 million direct deposits are expected to be processed the week of April 13, according to the Associated Press. Those who do not get a direct deposit may wait weeks or months for a paper check to arrive.
Bank information included on 2018 or 2019 tax returns will be used by the IRS for the direct deposits. Mnuchin also said the Treasury Department is working on a web portal that would allow those who have not given the IRS direct deposit information on a recent tax return to send account information in.
Paper checks will be mailed beginning the week of May 4, according to the AP, and about 5 million paper checks will be sent out a week, meaning it could take up to 20 weeks for all of the checks to be mailed, and checks could arrive as late as August.
The stimulus package includes $1,200 checks for taxpayers making less than $75,000, plus $500 for dependents younger than 17. Married couples will receive $2,400 if they collectively make less than $150,000.
Payments for those who don’t meet those qualifications will taper off.
People who receive Social Security will also receive stimulus checks and likely do not need to file a tax return to get one.
“Social Security recipients who are not typically required to file a tax return do not need to take an action, and will receive their payment directly to their bank account,” Mnuchin said earlier this week.
REPORT: CDC WILL RECOMMEND WEARING MASKS IN PUBLIC SETTINGS
Updated 11:30 a.m.
The New York Times reported Thursday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “will now recommend that everyone wear face coverings in public settings, like pharmacies and grocery stores,” during the COVID-19 pandemic to avoid “unwittingly spreading the virus.”
Health officials have stressed that N95 masks should be saved for health care workers, but wearing cloth masks could offer benefit for those who may have contracted the virus but do not show symptoms.
Officials have also said cloth masks, which still allow transmission of the virus, are not a substitute for social distancing or regular hygiene practices.
Details on new CDC guidance were still being formalized Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
TACOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS PLANS TO RESUME CLASSES MAY 5
Updated 11 a.m.
Tacoma Public Schools tweeted on Thursday evening it plans to resume in-person classes the morning after the state’s stay-at-home order expires.
Gov. Jay Inslee’s order was extended Thursday, and currently runs through 11:59 p.m. May 4.
“Tacoma Public Schools will comply with the governor’s order,” the tweet says. “Classes will resume on Tuesday, May 5.”
TPS is currently offering supplemental learning materials and family resources on its website.
THESE PIERCE COUNTY RESTAURANTS ARE OFFERING FAMILY MEALS TO-GO
Updated 10:30 a.m.
While restaurants throughout Pierce County continue to serve food and alcoholic beverages to-go during the COVID-19 pandemic, some have added family-style meals to their evolving takeout menus.
Here is a list of restaurants in the county offering family meals:
▪ Adriatic at Oakbrook (Lakewood)
▪ Asado (Tacoma)
▪ Bar Bistro (Tacoma)
▪ Bourbon Street Creole Kitchen (Puyallup)
▪ Casa Mia (Lakewood)
▪ Farm 12 (Puyallup)
▪ Joeseppi’s Italian Ristorante (Tacoma)
▪ Macaluso’s Italian Restaurant (Ruston)
▪ Pomodoro (Tacoma)
▪ Table 47 (Gig Harbor)
▪ Toscano’s Italian Grille (Puyallup)
Specific information on what each eatery is offering can be found here.
PIERCE TRANSIT TO REDUCE DAILY SERVICE
Updated 10:30 a.m.
Pierce Transit will move its bus routes to limited schedules beginning Monday, the agency announced this week.
The modified schedule is the result of decreased ridership due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Spokesperson Rebecca Japhet said in a press release ridership is down 64% compared to this time last year.
Bus fares have been temporarily eliminated, and remaining riders are asked to board at the back doors for safety reasons.
Weekend routes will run on the Sunday schedule, and weekdays will include a few additions to the usual Sunday schedule.
Routes 1, 3 and 500 will have extended morning and evening trips on weekdays, and additional trips during peak commuter travel times.
Route 400, which does not usually run on Sundays, will have limited service on weekdays.
Routes 13, 63, 102 425, 497 and the JBLM Connector are temporarily discontinued.
Riders can find more information about updated routes on Pierce Transit’s website.
CLOVER PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT, YMCA OF PIERCE COUNTY PARTNERING TO OFFER CHILD CARE
Updated 10 a.m.
The Clover Park School District is partnering with the YMCA of Pierce County to provide free child care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Children of first responders and health care, pharmacy and grocery store workers in grades K-5 are eligible during school closures.
Care will be provided on weekdays from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at Custer Elementary School and Idlewild Elementary School.
The following documentation will be required by parents upon registration:
▪ Location of work
▪ Position title
▪ Scope of work
▪ Photo copy of work identification badge or document or proof of employment
Eligible families should email YMCA Childcare or call 253-534-7840.
WIAA STILL PLANNING TO HOLD SPRING SPORTING EVENTS IN SOME CAPACITY
Updated 10 a.m.
The Washington Insterscholastic Activities Association is still planning on holding spring sporting events in some capacity, Executive Director Mick Hoffman said in a video posted to Twitter on Thursday.
A return to sporting events after Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order expires on May 4 would allow some type of culminating events, Hoffman said, but those would be contingent on availability of facilities and officials.
The association also has contingency plans if school does not resume the first week of May, which include the possibility of local or regional competitions.
Listen to Hoffman’s full comments below:
LOOKING TO DONATE IN PIERCE COUNTY DURING COVID-19? HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP
Updated 9:30 a.m.
Pierce County has designated a page on its website detailing how residents can help those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic:
▪ Donate to the Pierce County Connected COVID-19 response fund: United Way of Pierce County and the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation set up a relief fund that the public can donate to. Proceeds will benefit “urgent human service needs.”
▪ Donate to the Emergency Food Network: The network provides 14 million pounds of healthy food annually to more than 80 food pantries, meal sites and shelters, which then distribute to those in need.
▪ Donate to United Way of Pierce County: The nonprofit partners with other local nonprofits, businesses and government and social services agencies to address community needs.
▪ Donate to the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation: The foundation homes more than 450 specialized funds to support projects, organizations, scholarships or programs. More than 35 of the funds actively fundraise to meet intended community goals.
PIERCE COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS SOAR FOR SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK
Updated 9:30 a.m.
Unemployment claims continue to soar throughout Washington state and in Pierce County.
For the week ending March 28, 22,145 people in Pierce County filed unemployment claims, according to data from the Washington State Employment Security Department.
That is a 50% jump from the previous week.
In the past two weeks, 36,875 Pierce County residents — or about 8% of the total workforce — have filed claims.
In Washington, 181,975 people filed new claims for the week ending March 28, which was a 41% increase from the previous week.
WAITING TO GROCERY SHOP CAN HELP MOMS, BABIES IN PIERCE COUNTY
Updated 9 a.m.
Pierce County residents can assist women, infants and children in need during the COVID-19 pandemic by adjusting grocery shopping habits in two ways:
▪ Hold off shopping for a few days at the beginning of each month
▪ Avoid purchasing items with “WIC” shelf tags
“The nutrition program for women, infants and children (WIC) serves about half of all infants born in the United States,” Pierce County wrote on Twitter Thursday. “Because many WIC benefits come to low-income families at the first of the month, many of their benefits were depleted more quickly because kids are at home.”
WIC shoppers cannot substitute items and “would have to go without” if needed items are unavailable. The program provides foods such as fresh produce, whole grain bread, high-iron cereals, milk and baby food.
The state’s WIC program serves more than 27,000 in Pierce County.
ESD OFFERING FREE WEBINAR ON UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
Updated 9 a.m.
The Washington State Employment Security Department is offering a free webinar Friday morning about setting up unemployment benefits.
Free registration can be completed on the ESD’s website. Friday’s session begins at 10 a.m. There is another offered at 9 a.m. Saturday.
The agenda includes:
▪ Setting up a Secure Access Washington (SAW) account
▪ Filing a new UI Claim
▪ Guidance on standby and work search requirements
▪ General UI requirements and information
▪ Services and programs offered through the WorkSource Offices
A PDF version of the slide presentation is also available for download.
GOODWILL ANNOUNCES MASSIVE LAYOFFS
Updated 8:30 a.m.
Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region has announced massive layoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which go into effect Friday.
A message on Goodwill’s website said about 1,300 workers, mostly from its retail enterprise, will be temporarily laid off.
Goodwill halted in-store operations on March 19.
“The stark reality is that without our regular inflow of retail revenue, we cannot continue to cover all of our expenses, and we have made the extremely difficult decision to significantly reduce our workforce,” the message says.
Goodwill will retain core staff members to provide essential functions, and its executive team members will take a temporary salary reduction.
“We view this situation as a temporary, yet critically necessary, step to help our organization survive this crisis and to preserve and protect our Goodwill to continue to serve our community in the future,” the message says.
“We hope to recall laid-off employees in all areas of our organization as our retail enterprise rebounds,” it continues. “In the meantime, our Workforce Development team will continue to provide free virtual job training and support services to help as many people as possible regain a foothold in today’s uncertain time.”
TACOMA LAWYERS ARE ANSWERING COVID-19-RELATED QUESTIONS FREE OF CHARGE
Updated 8:30 a.m.
With the help of the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association’s TacomaProBono program, Meaghan Driscoll, an attorney at Connelly Law Offices in Tacoma, is connecting those with legal questions during the COVID-19 pandemic connect with lawyers who can provide answers — for free.
Last week, TacomaProBono, which typically provides legal assistance from its physical office on Tacoma Avenue, started fielding coronavirus-related legal questions online.
A volunteer team of attorneys stands ready to respond at no charge, Driscoll says.
The attorneys take turns working two-hour shifts throughout the day, according to TacomaProBono volunteer coordinator Ashley Duckworth, and have been able to respond to questions the same day.
Duckworth says the volunteer lawyers schedule a time for a follow-up phone call to discuss the matter, but sometimes an email reply suffices.
“As a community, I think it is important to come together and share resources and knowledge,” Driscoll said. “There are an amazing amount of attorneys who want to be involved with this, and who want to help.
“We all know that there’s a lot of uncertainty, and with uncertainty comes fear. Our hope is that with the virtual clinic we can take out some of the guesswork and some of the fears that people are experiencing.”
Driscoll said questions the attorneys have received so far have “matched up with the reality” of what they expected.
“What we expected and what we’ve seen is there are a lot of people who have questions about whether they’re allowed to go to work, or required to go to work. Questions about essential employees, and what it means,” she said. “We’ve also heard a lot from small business owners wondering what they can do to comply with the governor’s order, but also make sure their business isn’t going under in this difficult time.”
When the attorneys receive calls, they try to help advise people and “give them some sense of how to move forward,” Driscoll said.
INSLEE EXTENDS STAY-AT-HOME ORDER
Updated 8 a.m.
Gov. Jay Inslee said at a press conference Thursday evening he will extend his stay-at-home order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic until May 4.
The order closed all non-essential businesses on March 23, and urged all Washington residents to only venture outside of their homes when absolutely necessary.
It was initially set to expire next week, but instead will remain in place until 11:59 p.m. on May 4, meaning businesses and schools could reopen May 5 at the earliest.
Inslee said that is the “soonest we can achieve our ends to keep our loved ones safe.”
“We unfortunately have yet to see the full weight of this virus in our state,” he said. “This order is not only justified, it is morally necessary. We are confident in our steps we have taken, but we cannot lose steam in the middle of this fight.”
The state reported 6,585 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 262 deaths as of Wednesday, with 8.3% of the 79,418 people tested showing positive results.
The University of Washington released models last week that now predicts nearly 1,000 deaths in the state by the first week of June.
“The science is clear,” Inslee said. “More people will die if we stop now.”
PIERCE COUNTY COVID-19 EFFORT TURNS TO 3D PRINTING FOR REUSABLE MASKS
Updated 8 a.m.
With personal protective equipment in such high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, FabLab Tacoma’s community high-tech workspace and Team ZEVA of ZEVA Aero have joined up to help slow the spread by producing reusable masks on 3D printers.
“FabLab and ZEVA members all over the Puget Sound are using their 3D printers to print the masks as well as a plurality of printers at FabLab Tacoma,” FabLab’s website says.
“The first goal is to provide 50 masks to Madigan Army Medical Center. We would like to partner with local businesses to expand this effort. An example might be to use 3D printing to make tooling for short-run injection molding.”
The mask they are producing, originally created by three inventors in Billings, Mont., is a “3D-printable, high efficiency filtration mask that can be fitted to the provider’s face and sanitized between uses,” according to Make the Masks website.
There have been at least 30,000 downloads of the pattern worldwide since it was published. The masks are not formally FDA or National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health approved, though the FDA has offered guidance for those who want to produce them.
NEED A SANDWICH? MSM HAS REOPENED WITH WALK-UP WINDOW
Updated 8 a.m.
Following a 10-day hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tacoma’s MSM Deli reopened to customers Thursday.
The Sixth Avenue eatery reorganized its ordering system — “a light remodel,” owner Jamal Muthala told The News Tribune — allowing customers to call ahead or place an order at its newly installed walk-up window.
Only staff is allowed inside the deli, though orders for beer and drinks can still be placed, and will be located by staff.
MSM originally said it would close following Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order on March 23 for the safety of its customers and staff, who would still receive full pay. The deli planned to send sandwiches to local hospitals.
“We have a great following and we obviously appreciate it,” Muthala said. “That great following was hard to manage as far as keeping our employees and our customers safe. When you have a line of people to the door, with people waiting to pick up … it just didn’t feel right.”
So, to continue serving that following in a safer setting, the walk-up window was installed.
This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 8:00 AM.
