Coronavirus updates: More than 2 million in state receive payments; Pierce County reports 25 new cases
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Friday, April 24.
MORE THAN 2 MILLION IN WASHINGTON HAVE RECEIVED STIMULUS PAYMENTS
Updated 4 p.m.
The IRS released an update Friday about the status of the Economic Impact Payments, stating it has sent 88.1 million payments worth $158 billion during its first three weeks of delivery.
More than 150 million payments will eventually be distributed to taxpayers, Social Security recipients and other eligible recipients.
“The IRS, Treasury and partner agencies are working nonstop to get these payments out in record time to Americans who need them,” IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in the release. “Tens of millions of people across the country are receiving these payments, and millions more are on the way.”
The IRS offered a state-by-state breakdown of payments as of April 17, with Washington residents receiving 2,058,899 payments worth more than $3.6 billion.
Rettig encourages those who haven’t received their payments yet to visit the IRS website, which now includes a payment tracking tool.
CHIEF LESCHI SCHOOLS TO DISTRIBUTE ONLINE LEARNING DEVICES
Updated 3 p.m.
Chief Leschi Schools announced in a tweet Friday it will begin distributing online learning equipment to students Monday.
“Distribution will continue throughout the week,” the tweet says. “Families should expect to be contacted by phone with details on day, time, and device pickup location.”
More information about the Chief Leschi Schools’ learning plan can be found on its website.
PIERCE COUNTY REPORTS 25 NEW CASES, 3 DEATHS
Updated 2 p.m.
Pierce County reported 25 new COVID-19 cases and three additional deaths Friday, bringing its totals to 1,287 cases and 47 deaths.
The three additional deaths included a Tacoma man in his 60s, a Tacoma woman in her 70s and a Southwest Pierce County man in his 80s. All had underlying health conditions.
Tacoma has reported the most cases (430) and deaths (14) in the county since the outbreak began.
Central Pierce County became the third area in the county to pass 100 confirmed cases Friday, joining Tacoma and Lakewood (114).
Daily case totals can change as the county receives new information about cases, finds duplicate data or is assigned cases that were originally attributed to other counties. The health department has released a statement on delays in data posting.
Friday’s geographical totals are listed below with Thursdays numbers in parenthesis:
▪ Bonney Lake: 33 (no change)
▪ Central Pierce County: 101 (97)
▪ East Pierce County: 36 (no change)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 69 (68)
▪ Frederickson: 44 (no change)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 50 (no change)
▪ Graham: 41 (no change)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 7 (no change)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 35 (34)
▪ Lakewood: 117 (114)
▪ Parkland: 59 (no change)
▪ Puyallup: 62 (60)
▪ South Hill: 70 (no change)
▪ South Pierce County: 25 (no change)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 17 (16)
▪ Spanaway: 40 (no change)
▪ Tacoma: 430 (424)
▪ University Place: 44 (41)
▪ Unknown: 7 (3)
Daily reports include cases received by 11:59 p.m. the previous day.
POLL SUGGESTS WASHINGTONIANS FEAR LIFTING RESTRICTIONS TOO SOON
Updated 1 p.m.
A new statewide poll conducted by Crosscut/Elway suggests the majority of Washingtonians are wary of reopening the state due soon amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
A sample of 405 registered voters were polled by phone and online from April 18-20.
When asked what they think the bigger risk for the future is — lifting restrictions to soon and risking public health or lifting restrictions too late and risking harming the economy — 61% said lifting restrictions too soon was a bigger risk, while 31% were more concerned about the economy.
Democrats and Republicans were divided on this question, with 82% of Democrats saying lifting restrictions early was a greater risk and 64% of Republicans saying keeping restrictions in place for too long was a bigger issue.
Meanwhile, 76% of respondents said they believe the government-ordered restrictions have helped control the spread of the virus, while 17% believe the danger of the virus has been exaggerated and restrictions were not needed.
According to the poll, 92% of Democrats and 52% of Republicans polled in the state believed the restrictions were working.
Gov. Jay Inslee’s response to the pandemic received generally positive reviews from those polled with 75% approving and 25% disapproving, while President Donald Trump was given a 42% approval rating and 55% disapproval rating.
INSLEE OUTLINES PLAN TO RESUME LOW-RISK CONSTRUCTION
Updated 12 p.m.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced in a press conference Friday that low-risk construction is ready to resume as part of an incremental process of reopening the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inslee will sign the order Friday, he said, and projects can resume immediately if they meet appropriate safety measures.
He did not give a timeline for the reopening of other businesses, though he did say his office and the state Department of Commerce would work with other to help develop plans for reopening when it is safe to do so.
“It would be way too dangerous,” he said of the possibility of reopening the state right now, “and all of our data shows if we did this today the virus would return with a vengeance.”
Inslee offered the following outline for what safety measures low-risk construction projects must meet to resume:
▪ Safety plan to maintain physical distancing, adequate PPE, a COVID-19 site supervisor, etc.
▪ Comprehensive COVID-19 exposure, control and mitigation plan.
▪ Post written notice of the work to be performed at the job site for employees, subcontractors and government officials.
▪ Keep a safe and healthy work site.
Projects were not assessed on a case-by-case base, meaning officials did not have concrete numbers on how many workers across the state would return to their jobs.
Officials said during the press conference they looked at tasks that could be performed at construction sites — whether they be residential, private or other projects — suggesting most projects could resume in some capacity under this outline.
Projects could be shut down if they do not comply with the governor’s order.
TACOMA ADOPTS A-THROUGH-C GRADING SCALE
Updated 11:30 a.m.
The Tacoma School Board voted Thursday to adopt a new grading policy during the COVID-19 pandemic as districts continue to adjust to online learning.
The vote passed unanimously.
Middle and high school students will be given A, B or C letter grades through the end of the school year. No D or F grades will be given.
Elementary students will continue to be graded numerically 2-4, with 4 exceeding the end of year standard. No grades of 1, which indicate a student is significantly below the end of year standard, will be issued.
The change follows guidance from state Superintendent Chris Reykdal earlier this week, which prohibited districts from issuing pass or fail grades, instead giving them the option to adjust their grading scales.
Seattle Public Schools has decided to give out only A letter grades or incompletes. Tacoma’s policy does not include incomplete grades.
Tacoma Public Schools staff initially proposed an A-through-D grading scale, but the board voted to amend the proposal after a lengthy discussion.
“I just don’t feel comfortable that a D minimum threshold goes far enough to adjust for all the disruptions that we’ve had in the system,” board director Andrea Cobb said at the meeting. “Educators are getting used to the same format. Students are trying to get up to speed on how to engage and what they should be doing.”
“I think I worry about the kids that have disengaged — whether they’ve just disengaged because they don’t think it matters, or because they have family circumstances or access issues (or) learning issues,” board director Lisa Keating added. “I just worry about the implications in the equity.”
UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS EXPECTED TO SPIKE AGAIN AFTER SLOWING LAST WEEK
Updated 11 a.m.
Unemployment claims across Washington slowed last week, but are expected to surge again as the state continues to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the week ending April 18, the state Employment Security Department reported 82,435 new jobless claims, down significantly from the peak in the final week of March, when 181,975 new claims were made.
But, claims are expected to jump again this week following the expansion of the unemployment benefits program Sunday to include self-employed workers, independent contractors and those who haven’t worked 680 hours in the previous year.
In the first 36 hours following the expansion, the state received more applications than the entire record-breaking week in March.
“It is hard to imagine that the fifth-highest week of claims in Washington state history could be considered the calm before the storm, but that is certainly what we saw last week,” Employment Security Commissioner Suzi LeVine said in a release.
“Although remaining at historic levels, the initial claims dropped last week before the tsunami of applications began this week when we launched the expanded benefit under the federal CARES Act.”
The state has lost 605,514 jobs since March 7, the data says, and $1.4 billion has been paid out by the state since the COVID-19 outbreak began, with $900 million of that sent out this week, LeVine said.
Pierce County reported 11,016 new unemployment claims last week, down from its peak of 22,379 claims earlier this month. There have been 89,647 unemployment filings in the county since the outbreak began — or about 19.6% of workers in the area.
MORE THAN 100 COVID-19 CASES ACROSS FOUR COUNTIES CONNECTED TO PLANT NEAR PASCO
Updated 10:30 a.m.
The Tyson Fresh Meats plant near the Tri-Cities, which has been connected to 105 positive cases of COVID-19, will temporarily halt production, the corporation announced Thursday.
Cases linked to the plant, which is located south of Pasco at Wallula, have spread through four counties.
One worker at the plant has died from complications related to the virus.
All of the 1,400 employees who work at the location will undergo testing beginning Friday, the Walla Walla County Department of Health said. The county is depending on the state Department of Health to provide testing materials, which are in short supply.
Workers will be sent home until the county processes their test results, which are expected to be returned in three or four days.
Tyson said it will continue to pay workers while they are in self-isolation.
“Unfortunately, the closure will mean reduced food supplies and presents problems to farmers who have no place to take their livestock,” group president of Tyson Fresh Meats Steve Stouffer said. “It’s a complicated situation across the supply chain.”
The plant, which slaughters and packages beef, produces enough product daily to feed 4 million, Tyson said. It continues to work with health officials in Walla Walla, Benton and Franklin counties on plans to resume production.
“We are working with local health officials to bring the plant back to full operation as soon as we believe it to be safe,” Stouffer said.
STATE REMINDS RESIDENTS THAT EATING TIDE PODS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA
Updated 10 a.m.
Following President Donald Trump’s remarks Thursday about the possibility of using disinfectant injections to combat COVID-19, the state’s Emergency Management Division, among other health authorities, have cautioned against such practices.
The president suggested during his daily White House briefing that sunlight, ultraviolet light and household disinfectants could kill the virus.
His assertion about disinfectants, in particular, sparked searches and trends on social media that concerned health officials.
“And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute — one minute — and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning?” he said. “Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.”
The EMD tweeted a response to the comments Thursday evening, urging the public they should not be attempting these methods.
The tweet specifically discouraging eating Tide Pods — which briefly became a popular internet challenge among teenagers in 2018.
“Please don’t eat Tide Pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant,” the tweet says. “ … Just don’t make a bad situation worse.”
Lysol also tweeted Friday morning that its products should be used as directed for cleaning, not ingested by consumers.
INSLEE’S OFFICE SHUTS DOWN RESTARTING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Updated 9:30 a.m.
Gov. Jay Inslee’s office asked the City of Tacoma in a letter Wednesday to retract a directive that would have expanded essential construction projects in the city during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The letter stated a directive signed last week by City Manager Elizabeth Pauli and other staffers undermines Inslee’s stay-at-home order.
“The document seeks to clarify the Proclamation 20-25, ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy,’ but because it undercuts substantive provisions of the proclamation, it is unlawful,” the letter says.
The city’s directive attempted to interpret Inslee’s order, which states projects that “further a public purpose” are essential.
The city defined essential projects in Tacoma as:
▪ Public or private projects that are owned by a government agency or developed in agreement with a government agency.
▪ Public or private projects that increase the number of affordable or market-rate housing.
▪ Public or private projects that make commercial facilities ready to open or reopen at the end of the COVID-19 emergency.
▪ Public or private construction necessary to repair or prevent damage to structures or prevent unsafe conditions.
Specifically listed essential projects in the directive include the downtown Convention Center Marriott Hotel, the Hailey Apartments, Tacoma Town Center, all Tacoma Housing Authority projects and the YWCA Family Housing project.
But, the letter from Inslee’s office says the city’s action suggests all construction would reopen in Tacoma.
“In fact, I struggle to identify any construction project that could not be completed in accordance with the city’s determination,” the letter says. “Consequently, the determination is wholly inconsistent with the Proclamation, which sets out a consistent framework for allowable construction.”
Civil or criminal charges could be a last resort if individuals and businesses don’t comply, the letter says.
The letter asks Tacoma to “immediately rescind or retract” its directive.
City attorney Steve Victor told The News Tribune the city “assured the Governor’s Office that Tacoma’s intention was only to fairly and transparently apply the Proclamation to Tacoma, and we would appreciate further productive engagement.”
Victor also called for clarity on Inslee’s criteria on projects that should continue.
“What Tacoma is really seeking is simply clarity,” Victor wrote in an email. “What are the criteria? What is the process? How can Tacoma support the projects we believe are essential during the emergency and recovery period?”
Mayor Victoria Woodards told The News Tribune Thursday she understands city plans to stand down the order, but is hopeful action will be taken as conversations with Inslee continue.
INSLEE ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS HAIR — HIS WIFE CUTS IT
Updated 9:30 a.m.
Following inquiries — mostly criticisms — on social media about how he has been able to keep his hair freshly cut during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Jay Inslee answered with a tweet Thursday.
“My wife Trudi has been cutting my hair during the stay home order,” he wrote. “She is grateful so many of you noticed.”
Hair salons and barber shops are not considered essential businesses, and remain closed as part of the governor’s stay-at-home order, which is currently set to expire May 4.
NFL DRAFT BEGINS AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC, SEAHAWKS ACTUALLY PICK
Updated 9 a.m.
The production was much different than in past years — and included commissioner Roger Goodell announcing picks from his basement while encouraging the usual chorus of boos from fans on the video screen behind him — but the NFL draft proceeded with its first round Thursday night despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Seattle Seahawks had the 27th overall pick, and general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll surprised everyone by using it for the first time in nine years, instead of trading down.
Seattle selected Jordyn Brooks, who was an all-Big 12 linebacker at Texas Tech. He compiled 367 tackles in his career playing both outside and middle linebacker. Brooks was projected by most as a second- or third-round pick.
“I was fixin’ something to eat,” Brooks said late Thursday night during a Zoom call from his Dallas-area home. “I was a little bit surprised it was the Seahawks. I wasn’t surprised about the first round. I was surprised the Seahawks came and got me.”
Schneider told reporters the Seahawks had a trade to move back, but it “fell through at the very last minute.”
The proposed deal was with Green Bay, but the Packers received a better offer from Miami to move up from No. 30. The Packers jumped the Seahawks at No. 26 and selected Utah State quarterback Jordan Love.
The Seahawks, on the clock immediately following, chose Brooks. Comments made by both Carroll and Schneider suggest the Seahawks would have taken Brooks at No. 30 anyway, had they traded with Green Bay.
The draft resumes at 4 p.m. Friday with Rounds 2 and 3. The Seahawks currently own pick Nos. 59 and 64 in the second round, and No. 101 in the third round.
FUTURE OF STADIUM PROJECT UNCERTAIN AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Updated 8:30 a.m.
The future of Tacoma’s proposed $60 million soccer stadium is uncertain as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause economic stress in Washington.
Backers of the Heidelberg Sports Complex remain dedicated to seeing the project completed, but some elected officials facing budget cuts are less certain.
Before the outbreak took hold in March, a nonbinding letter of intent to embark on a public process for the stadium was signed by Metro Parks Tacoma, the city and private partners The Soccer Club of Tacoma, which includes the Tacoma Rainiers and Seattle Sounders.
It identified more than $22 million in public funds for the stadium project, including $7.5 million from Metro Parks and $15 million in both in-kind and cash donations from the city.
But, with the city facing a budget shortfall upwards of $40 million due to the pandemic, some projects have already been canceled.
The city was considering using some of its reserve fund to help pay for the stadium, but is now using $12 million of its reserve to help offset the deficit.
“As we cut services across the board and access reserves to maintain basics, I don’t foresee the soccer stadium on the list of priorities,” City Council member Lillian Hunter said in a text to The News Tribune. “That could certainly change when the current crises subsides and things return to ‘normal.’”
Metro Parks has also announced furloughs and layoffs of more than 600 employees since the outbreak began, and is projecting a $13 million deficit.
Metro Parks spokesperson Nancy Johnson said the project hasn’t been canceled, but paused as focus shifts to “maintaining essential functions during the prolonged system-wide closure.”
Parks commissioner Andrea Smith said the public input process likely won’t resume until fall at the earliest.
“Until we have revenues to where we can bring back staff from furloughs, we don’t have any capacity to engage the public as a tax-funded entity,” she said.
Tim Thompson, a project consultant, remains optimistic the project could continue once the pandemic subsides.
“We’re still very committed to seeing this project through to its conclusion,” he said. “ ... It’ll have to be done in a different time frame.”
MCMENAMINS ELKS TEMPLE REOPENING FOR TAKEOUT
Updated 8:30 a.m.
Tacoma’s McMenamins Elks Temple will reopen at 11 a.m. Friday for takeout orders, according to a Facebook post from the location earlier this week.
“We are working now on getting our limited menus up online and once we are open you can give us a call to place your order then come by to pick up,” the post says.
An abbreviated menu will be offered.
The Bottle Shop will reopen Friday, May 1, according a McMenamins representative.
“We will be able to fill growlers in the pub and you can buy Mc beer and wine still,” the post says. “We will be taking all the safety precautions necessary as we transition into this new way of being open.
“We appreciate your patience and support through all of this and we are excited to serve you again!”
McMenamins Elk Temple first opened April 24, 2019 to a standing-room-only crowd. It closed its doors in March as part of the regional chain of restaurants hotels and pubs that opted to temporarily shut down operations in Washington and Oregon.
STATE WON’T RELEASE VULNERABLE INMATES FOLLOWING COURT RULING
Updated 8 a.m.
The Washington Supreme Court denied a petition Thursday asking for a court order to release thousands of prison inmates vulnerable to COVID-19, as well as inmates already nearing release.
The lawsuit filed in March by Columbia Legal Services on behalf of five inmates asked the court to appoint an independent expert to determine how many inmates would need to be released to ensure appropriate social distancing practices at all of the state’s prisons.
The court ruled the inmates did not show “constitutional or statutory grounds for relief.”
The lawsuit asserted that Gov. Jay Inslee and state Department of Corrections Secretary Stephen Sinclair violated the “cruel punishment” clause in the state’s constitution, which protects inmates from “a substantial risk of serious harm,” but the attorney general’s office said there was no evidence to back that claim.
The Monroe Correctional Complex has reportedly been most impacted by the virus, with 12 inmates and seven staffers testing positive, according to the DOC website.
Inslee has already used an emergency order to authorize early release of about 1,100 inmates convicted of non-violent crimes.
Columbia Legal asserted during oral arguments Thursday that more inmates should be released to ensure social distancing, and asked the court to identify all inmates 50 years or older, those with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk for contracting COVID-19, and those who have early release dates set within the next 18 months or are currently on work release.
The attorney general’s office concluded the number of inmates who meet those criterion is 11,715, including 5,272 who have committed violent offenses such as murder, rape and assault.
Columbia Legal said it was “extremely disappointed” by the court’s ruling, suggesting in a written statement that the court’s decision “leaves vulnerable the over 4,600 individuals with an identified medical diagnosis, and the 3,700 people over age 50.”
Inslee said the state remains committed to trying to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in its prisons.
“We take this obligation very seriously,” he said. “These people deserve to have their health protected to the extent we can and we’ve done a huge amount of work to try to reduce this risk.
“But, the risk is not zero anywhere in the state of Washington right now. You can’t totally eliminate the risk. I just want people to know I recognize that responsibility, no matter how the Supreme Court ruled.”
WASHINGTON’S COVID-19 DEATH TOLL PASSES 700
Updated 8 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Health reported 259 new cases of COVID-19 and 19 additional deaths Thursday.
Statewide totals are now at 12,753 cases and 711 deaths. About 5.6% of the state’s confirmed cases have resulted in death.
King County continues to be the hardest hit, reporting 5,569 cases and 384 deaths, while Snohomish County has 2,240 cases and 98 deaths and Pierce County has 1,262 cases and 44 deaths.
Garfield County remains the only county in the state that has not reported a positive case, while 13 counties have reported more than 100 cases and 20 have reported at least one death.
There have been 153,376 tests performed in Washington, with about 8.3% producing positive results.
ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE REPORTS 970 PRICE GOUGING COMPLAINTS
Updated 8 a.m.
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office reports it had received 970 complaints related to price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic as of Wednesday.
The office also reports 40 calls to businesses, 283 visits to businesses, eight warning letters sent and 12 cease and desists sent.
Suspected price gouging can be reported by filing a complaint through the attorney general’s website.
This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 8:00 AM.
