Coronavirus updates: Washington state passes 10,400 cases, 500 deaths
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Monday, April 13.
Updated at 2:45 p.m.
Pierce County reported 41 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday.
Pierce County’s COVID-19 case total is now 969 with 20 deaths.
The county said it could not report “test result numbers or rates at this time because the state data system is experiencing delays.”
On Sunday, it reported that its numbers were likely low because the Washington Disease Reporting System experienced slow Electronic Laboratory Reporting System uploads and then went offline for emergency maintenance.
On Monday, the health department said it had reassigned several previous cases to other counties, resulting in Monday’s adjusted total.
Daily case totals can change as the county receives new information about cases or finds duplicate data.
Monday’s geographical totals are listed below with Sunday’s numbers in parentheses:
▪ Bonney Lake: 27 (25)
▪ Central Pierce County: 59 (54)
▪ East Pierce County: 30 (27)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 53 (52)
▪ Frederickson: 31 (30)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 46 (44)
▪ Graham: 35 (no change)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 6 (no change)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 23 (22)
▪ Lakewood: 75 (73)
▪ Parkland: 47 (41)
▪ Puyallup: 48 (no change)
▪ South Hill: 58 (57)
▪ South Pierce County: 19 (17)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 8 (no change)
▪ Spanaway: 32 (30)
▪ Tacoma: 337 (328)
▪ University Place: 33 (32)
▪ Unknown: 2 (no change)
Daily reports include cases received by 11:59 p.m. the previous day.
State plans to release some nonviolent offenders early
Updated at 2:15 p.m.
The state plans to release 600 to 950 nonviolent offenders early to free up space in state prisons in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
In a report required by the state Supreme Court, the attorney general’s office said Monday the plan covers inmates with nonviolent and/or drug or alcohol offenses whose release dates are within six to eight months. The release of inmates will begin “in the coming days,” the state said.
“This will help allow for increased physical distancing throughout the Department of Corrections’ system, reducing the population by up to 950 people to continue to reduce the risks to incarcerated individuals while balancing public safety concerns,“ Gov. Jay Inslee said in a written statement.
Inslee said some inmates will be released through commutation and others will be released into a modified graduated reentry program.
The state announced late last week that a seventh inmate had tested positive for COVID-19 at the Monroe Correctional Complex, where a disturbance by more than 100 inmates — triggered by DOC’s handling of the new coronavirus outbreak — ended without any injuries on April 8 but caused damage to the Minimum Security Unit.
The Department of Corrections’ release plan — including electronic monitoring, if feasible — will focus on five groups serving sentences for nonviolent crimes:
▪ Those who are due for release — both who are vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 and those who are not — within 75 days.
▪ Vulnerable inmates who are due for release in 2 to 6 months, through a program for them to re-enter the community.
▪ Inmates vulnerable to COVID-19 who are scheduled for release in 6-8 months, who have an approved release plan.
▪ Inmates incarcerated for lower level supervision violations.
▪ Inmates who are on work release and can be released through the furlough authority of Stephen Sinclair, the state Secretary of the Department of Corrections.
Hobbs selected to command Task Force Olympic
Updated at 10:45 a.m.
Sen. Steve Hobbs (D-Lake Stevens), a Lieutenant Colonel in the Washington National Guard, has been selected to command Task Force Olympic — the Guard’s mission in Western Washington helping with the response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Hobbs’ service begins immediately and will keep him away from his legislative responsibilities for an indeterminate amount of time. While he is away, his office will continue to be available to answer questions and assist constituents.
Task Force Olympic is comprised currently of approximately 150-200 men and women of the Army and Air National Guard. Their initial mission is to support communities throughout Western Washington through food distribution at food banks, as well as ensuring beds and respirators reach their intended destinations. The Task Force will be tasked with other missions as assigned in order to support communities during this pandemic.
Constituents can reach Hobbs’ office by calling (360) 786-7686 or via email at steve.hobbs@leg.wa.gov.
PSE offers bill assistance for customers impacted by COVID-19
Updated at 10:45 a.m.
Puget Sound Energy will make funds available to help customers who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through its Crisis-Affected Customer Assistance Program (CACAP). This includes customers who recently became unemployed, partially unemployed, or cannot work.
The $11 million are carry-over funds under PSE’s Low Income Program. With approval from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, PSE made revisions to its program to make these funds available to a broader group of customers.
Funds are also available in PSE’s other assistance programs, including the Warm Home Fund, PSE Home Energy Lifeline Program and Weatherization Assistance Program for income-eligible customers.
This program will be available to PSE’s residential customers in Island, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston and Whatcom counties who meet the household size and income criteria.
Depending on average monthly usage, a qualified PSE customer:
▪ Must have a monthly household income limit up to 250% of Federal Poverty Level
▪ Can receive up to $1,000 in PSE utility-bill credits per household
For more information on this program and other program offerings, visit www.pse.com/covidhelp.
Port of Seattle to provide rent relief to qualifying tenants
Update at 9:30 a.m.
The Port of Seattle will provide rent relief for qualifying business tenants and customers throughout its maritime and landside properties, which include office, retail, and restaurants, along with recreational and commercial moorage.
The relief comes in the way of deferring rent for businesses for the months of April through July, and deferring moorage fees for liveaboard and other moorage customers for the months of April through June. The provisions will apply to tenants who have been impacted by COVID-19 and the resulting economic crisis.
For Landside Maritime and Economic Development Division tenants with demonstrated impact and need, this will defer rent payments and other fees for four months — April, May, June, and July of 2020 — which is similar to the relief for tenants at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The deferrals are intended to maximize the ability of the Port’s commercial tenants to continue operations, retain employees and provide revenue to the Port as the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
For vessel moorage customers with demonstrated impact and need, the Port will defer moorage payments and other fees for three months — April, May, and June of 2020. The Port will work with customers to develop repayment plans that work for paying the deferred rent.
Washington state passes 10,400 cases, 500 deaths
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Health reported 187 new COVID-19 cases and 17 additional deaths on Sunday, bringing the statewide totals to 10,411 cases and 508 deaths.
King County continues to be the hardest hit with 4,222 cases and 292 deaths while Snohomish County has 1,844 cases and 70 deaths.
Pierce County reported 931 cases and 20 deaths on its website. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said on its website the case count likely is low because the Washington Disease Reporting System experienced slow Electronic Laboratory Reporting System uploads and then went offline for emergency maintenance. The numbers could increase again on Monday.
All of Washington’s 39 counties except Garfield County have reported at least one case and 17 counties have reported at least one virus related death.
USDA Unveils Tool to Help Rural Communities
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today unveiled a one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide (PDF, 349 KB) is a resource for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic.
“This resource guide will help our rural leaders, whether they are in agriculture, education, health care or any other leadership capacity, understand what federal assistance is available for their communities during this unprecedented time,” Perdue said.
For more information on these actions, visit www.usda.gov/coronavirus.
Central Washington resources to support high priority long-term care needs
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
After consulting with local authorities, Gov. Jay Inslee and Vice Admiral (ret.) Raquel Bono, M.D, announced today a decision to utilize Central Washington medical resources to help those most vulnerable to COVID-19.
The state has requested about 100 U.S. Health and Human Services personnel and other resources recently deployed to the former Astria Regional Medical Center in Yakima now focus on long-term care facilities where COVID-19 is occurring in other parts of the state.
The Astria facility, which was identified as suitable for 250 low-acuity patients to relieve local hospitals, will be retained and can be quickly reopened in the event of a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Inslee said the decision was a positive move in the fight against the coronavirus.
“Thanks to the cooperation of communities and businesses across Washington, ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ is slowing the spread of the virus,” he said. “But we can’t let up now, and we need to continue to explore a range of options and assess the best use of our alternative care facilities to ensure they are always available where the need is greatest.”
Applications pour in for city of Lacey COVID-19 small business grant funds
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
More than 100 small business owners affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have applied for a share of the $1 million in grant funds approved by Lacey City Council last month.
The council approved the funds on March 26. The Thurston Economic Development Council began accepting and screening applicants on the city’s behalf the following week, and now 165 (and counting) small business owners have applied for the funds, said Rick Walk, Lacey’s community and economic development director.
“It’s a great demonstration of the need out there,” said Walk who recently updated Lacey City Council.
Of the total, 28 businesses have received grants, burning through about $250,000 of the fund, Walk said. The average grant size has been $8,500, he said. Not every business has needed the maximum amount of $10,000, which will extend the life of the overall fund, Walk said.
Other businesses have applications that are pending, or are in the initial stages of the process, plus about 25 applicants have been denied because they didn’t meet basic criteria. The business must have 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, but priority will be given to those businesses with 10 or fewer. The business also must be in Lacey.
This story was originally published April 13, 2020 at 8:32 AM.
