Coronavirus updates: Stimulus money questions; Alaska Air tests to fly cargo
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Wednesday, April 29.
Updated at 4:40 p.m.
Pierce County reported 19 new COVID-19 cases but no new deaths on Wednesday.
The county has reported a total of 1,401 cases and 51 deaths since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to figures from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
On Monday, the department added to its reporting data a list of cases involving staff and patients reported at care facilities. The department says that moving forward, those numbers will be updated each Wednesday.
On Monday, the county reported 252 cases at congregate care facilities. On Wednesday they totaled 266, nearly 19 percent of the county’s total case count.
Wednesday’s totals of active cases are listed below with Monday’s previous totals in parentheses. Newly listed locations will only show one case total:
▪ Heartwood Extended Health Care, Tacoma: 69 (68)
▪ Alpha Cottages (Gibraltar Assisted Living), Central Pierce County: 37 (no change)
▪ Avamere Puget Sound Transitional Care, Tacoma: 34 (no change)
▪ Orchard Park Health and Rehab Center, Tacoma, 18
▪ Pioneer Place Memory Haven, Central Pierce County: 16 (no change)
▪ The Cottages at Edgewood, Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 13 (no change)
▪ Other facilities, multiple areas: 79 (84)
On Wednesday, the department’s COVID-19 website showed 23 hospital stays for COVID-19 cases, down from 33 the previous week.
Daily case totals can change as the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department receives new information. Adjustments can include correcting duplicate data, assigning a case to another county or learning a test was a false positive.
Wednesday’s geographical totals are listed below with Tuesday’s reported numbers in parentheses:
▪ Bonney Lake: 34 (no change)
▪ Central Pierce County: 104 (no change)
▪ East Pierce County: 39 (38)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 75 (74)
▪ Frederickson: 50 (47)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 50 (no change)
▪ Graham: 45 (no change)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 7 (no change)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 37 (no change)
▪ Lakewood: 132 (130)
▪ Parkland: 71 (68)
▪ Puyallup: 67 (no change)
▪ South Hill: 74 (no change)
▪ South Pierce County: 32 (no change)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 17 (no change)
▪ Spanaway: 47 (45)
▪ Tacoma: 467 (461)
▪ University Place: 48 (47)
▪ Unknown: 5 (no change)
Daily reports include cases received by 11:59 p.m. the previous day.
State working on COVID-19 specific sites
Updated at 1:15 p.m.
The state is working to set up COVID-19 specific sites in at least three counties, including Pierce, to offer more space for isolation for patients who may not be able to isolate well in their existing long-term care facilities.
Chris Wright, public information officer with the Department of Social and Health Services, shared early details in response to questions from The News Tribune about the sites late Tuesday.
According to Wright, the Pierce County site “will be a wing of an existing Pierce County nursing home that will be cordoned off from the rest of facility only for COVID-19 patients.”
The sites will provide an alternative to hospital recovery or a direct return to a care facility in cases where they may not be able to safely isolate the patient from other residents.
Wright added, “There will be dedicated entrance, dedicated staff and the ability to separate the ventilation from the rest of the system.”
Additionally, “There will be two other facilities, one in King and another in Whatcom. King County may start accepting residents as early as next week.”
The time line for the Pierce County site to launch is not yet clear.
The sites will be officially announced after the contracts are signed, possibly as soon as Wednesday. Last week, Shuksan Healthcare Center in Bellingham was identified as one of the sites in a separate announcement by its owner.
Cotsco to mask-wearing mandatory
Updated at 1:15 p.m.
Costco shoppers, take note, you’re going to need a mask to enter.
In new guidance released Wednesday, the retailer said it would impose the new rules for its customers next week.
Effective May 4, “all Costco members and guests must wear a mask or face covering that covers the mouth and nose at all times while at Costco. This requirement does not apply to children under the age of 2 or to individuals who are unable to wear a mask or face covering due to a medical condition,” the retailer posted on its website.
It added, “The use of a mask or face covering should not be seen as a substitute for social distancing. Please continue to observe rules regarding appropriate distancing while on Costco premises.”
Costco also announced that effective May 4 it would be returning to regular operating hours at most of its locations and starting that day, select Costco warehouses would be open from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday “for members ages 60 and older, and people with disabilities. Only members who meet this criteria will be able to shop during these hours. Guests will not be admitted. The pharmacy will be open, but the Costco Food Court will be closed during these hours.”
Inslee clarifies construction guidance memo
Updated at 11:10 a.m.
On Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a plan to allow current construction projects to be completed. On Wednesday, the governor clarified the initial guidance memo and issued a guide to frequently asked questions about construction activities.
The guidance is an addendum to his “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” proclamation, the construction requirements that apply to all previously and newly authorized construction activities in Washington as long as Gubernatorial Proclamation 20-25, or any extension, is in effect.
Authorized construction now includes:
▪ Construction previously authorized under Proclamation 20-25 and Gov. Inslee’s March 25, 2020, memo on construction.
▪ Construction not previously authorized under Proclamation 20-25 and the March 25, 2020, memo that was in existence on March 23, 2020. For purposes of this memo, in existence means construction activity that is a) needed to fulfill an obligation under a contract effective prior to March 23, 2020, or b) authorized by a government-issued permit obtained prior to March 23, 2020.
Commerce provides $9 million in rent and energy assistance to serve estimated 5,000 low-income households
Updated at 11:10 a.m.
The Department of Commerce last week provided up to $1,000 in rental assistance and up to $500 in energy assistance for households that qualify for the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The crisis funding will be distributed through Commerce’s statewide network of community action agencies, and is expected to serve an estimated 5,000 eligible households.
“Imagine not having enough funds to pay rent, the heat bill, and put food on the table. Thousands of families in Washington face this predicament, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this crisis in our state,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown. “We are working with our partners to disperse this funding as quickly as possible.”
Community action agencies will distribute the money on a first-come, first-served basis, as long as the Governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order is in place.
Of the $9 million available, 15% is available for rental assistance. Tenants who are behind in their rent and meet the other qualifications for crisis benefits must apply to their local community action agency. If approved, the rental assistance payment will be made directly to the landlord.
Similarly, those unable to pay their energy bills must apply through their local community action agency. When approved, the benefit is paid to the utility that serves the qualifying household.
To qualify for the COVID-19 crisis LIHEAP benefits, a household must be at or below 125% of the federal poverty level and have received — or will receive — a LIHEAP or Low Income Rate Assistance Program (LIRAP) benefit in the current program year (October 2019 – October 2020).
Alaska Air testing to fly cargo
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
Alaska Air Cargo announced it will fly passenger jets as cargo-only flights to carry essential goods like mail, medical equipment, e-commerce packages and food throughout its domestic network.
Filling the passenger cabin with cargo will backfill the loss in capacity across the continental United States and Hawaii after passenger flights were reduced.
“We’re determined to help protect the resiliency of our nation’s supply chain by connecting critical cargo to the communities we serve during this public health crisis,” said Torque Zubeck, managing director of Alaska Air Cargo. “Our teams have been working tirelessly since March to identify the safest and most effective processes to increase our cargo capacity as quickly as possible.”
In addition to Air Cargo’s dedicated three freighters, six Boeing 737-900 aircraft will be utilized as cargo-only aircraft. Boxes, mail and other items will be placed on and under seats, in overhead bins and in closets — to offer 13,500 more pounds of cargo than what a passenger-only flight could carry. In total, each flight will carry up to 30,000 pounds, which includes belly capacity.
If approved by the FAA, the passenger-only aircraft would begin flying throughout the United States in May.
U.S. Department of Labor issues COVID-19 relief and guidance for employee benefit plans
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued deadline relief and other guidance under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to help employee benefit plans, plan participants and beneficiaries, employers and other plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries and other service providers impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.
A Department of Labor notice, jointly issued with the Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service, extends certain time frames affecting participants’ rights to healthcare coverage, portability and continuation of group health plan coverage under COBRA, and extends the time for plan participants to file or perfect benefit claims or appeals of denied claims.
These extensions provide participants and beneficiaries of employee benefit plans additional time to make important health coverage and other decisions affecting their benefits during the coronavirus outbreak.
EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2020-01 extends the time for plan officials to furnish benefit statements, annual funding notices and other notices and disclosures required by ERISA so long as they make a good faith effort to furnish the documents as soon as administratively practicable.
The notice explains that good faith includes the use of electronic alternative means of communicating with plan participants and beneficiaries who the plan fiduciary reasonably believes have effective access to electronic means of communication.
The notice also includes compliance assistance guidance on plan loans, participant contributions and loan payments, blackout notices, Form 5500 and Form M-1 filing relief and other general compliance guidance on ERISA fiduciary responsibilities.
Port of Seattle Commission updates construction plan to boost Jobs and spending
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
The Port of Seattle Commission updated its 2020 construction plans today to boost local COVID-19 economic recovery through project spending and hiring, while enacting public health protocols developed with guidance from state and federal agencies.
The plan continues early actions by the Port to direct as much activity as possible towards immediate COVID-19 recovery.
The updated plan commits the Port continue with approximately 20 projects currently under construction, worth approximately $1.5 billion to the local economy. The Port also proposes accelerating and postponing certain projects based on financial considerations.
“As one of the largest public sector builders in the region, the Port is uniquely positioned to help lead the region’s recovery,” said Port of Seattle Commission President Peter Steinbrueck. “Our goal is to help keep construction workers employed by providing certainty to large public works construction projects, accelerating some projects where feasible, and by supporting our private sector partners.”
IRS updates website to answer questions, post new info on stimulus money
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
Given the response to the recent IRS update about how many economic impact payments have been distributed in Washington, more than a few News Tribune readers have yet to receive their payment.
Many people want more information on when, exactly, the money is arriving in their accounts.
The IRS recommends going to to irs.gov and go to the “Get My Payment Frequently Asked Questions” portion of the website.
The questions and answers continue to be updated, with dates now posting for the last time a question was addressed.
New guidance offered April 26, for example, details how long it takes to get an update of when a payment is being sent.
According to the page: “If you enter your bank information in Get My Payment any day until noon on Tuesday, your payment date will be available beginning the following Saturday in Get My Payment. If you enter your bank information after noon on Tuesday, your payment date should be available beginning the Saturday after next in Get My Payment.”
It added, “There may be times when your payment may be sent by mail because the payment was already in process before the bank information was entered. If this is the case, then typically it will take up to 14 days to receive the payment (standard mailing time).”
New date for end of stay-at-home order? We may know later this week
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
Gov. Jay Inslee later this week may give the public a new date for when the stay-at-home and partial business closure order will expire, a top aide said Tuesday.
“We’re certainly going to share that as soon as we can,” Inslee’s Chief of Staff David Postman said at a press briefing.
The current emergency proclamation runs through May 4, but Inslee has said several times it will be extended.
At a press conference Monday, Inslee said, “We are going to have to maintain plenty of restrictions after May 4. ... As time goes on, we intend to continue to turn that dial to open up our community. But that dial depends on data on when it can be opened up. And that data changes every single day.”
Inslee said the state tracks multiple metrics, including fatality rates, percentages of positive tests for COVID-19, daily hospitalizations for COVID-like illnesses, and computer modeling that attempts to project what will occur in the future.
On Friday, the governor has announced that low-risk residential and commercial construction can resume as long as builders protect their workers from the new coronavirus. On Monday, Inslee outlined the partial re-opening of state lands and outdoor activities, including fishing, hunting and golf.
Also at Tuesday’s briefing, Dr. Kathy Lofy, the state health officer and chief science officer, expressed concern about the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reported daily.
“We’re still seeing 200 to 250 cases that are being reported per day, which is still a fairly high burden of disease. As we talked about at the very beginning of this outbreak, the cases that we are detecting right now are probably not likely to be all the cases that are occurring out there. And that’s why we need to increase the amount of testing we’re doing so we can be detecting more of the cases,” she said.
This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 8:35 AM.
