Coronavirus updates: Washington reports 1,000th death; Pierce County has distributed $21 million
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Saturday, May 16.
WASHINGTON STATE REPORTS 1,000TH COVID-19 DEATH
Updated 3:30 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Health reported 337 new COVID-19 cases and eight additional deaths Saturday.
Statewide case totals have reached 18,288, while the state’s death toll is now at 1,000. Washington is one of 18 states that has reported 1,000 or more virus-related deaths since the outbreak began.
The state passed 18,000 cases and 1,000 deaths on the same day, after reporting 17,951 cases and 992 deaths Friday.
King County continues to be the hardest hit, reporting 7,426 cases and 526 deaths. Snohomish County has reached 2,773 cases and 125 deaths, and Yakima County has reached 2,217 cases and 74 deaths.
Pierce County reported 22 new cases and two additional deaths Saturday, bringing its totals to 1,787 cases and 68 deaths.
Of the state’s 39 counties, all but Garfield County have reported cases, with Benton (627), Chelan (172), Clark (386), Douglas (125), Franklin (441), Grant (185), Island (176), King (7,426), Kitsap (159), Pierce (1,787), Skagit (425), Snohomish (2,773), Spokane (396), Thurston (123), Walla Walla (106), Whatcom (347) and Yakima (2,217) all reporting more than 100 cases.
Twenty-four counties have reported at least one virus-related death. All but five of those counties have reported multiple deaths, with Benton (55), Clark (22), Franklin (17), Island (10), King (526), Pierce (68), Skagit (14), Snohomish (125), Spokane (30), Whatcom (35) and Yakima (74) all reporting at least 10.
There are 112 cases and one death that have not been assigned to a county.
There have been 280,993 tests completed in Washington, with positive results now at 6.5%.
PIERCE COUNTY REPORTS 22 NEW COVID-19 CASES, 2 DEATHS
Updated 2 p.m.
Pierce County reported 22 new COVID-19 case and two additional deaths Saturday.
The county’s totals since the virus outbreak began are now 1,787 cases and 68 deaths.
The two additional deaths reported Saturday were a Parkland man in his 20s and a South Hill woman in her 90s. Both had underlying health conditions.
According to a chart on the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s website, the Parkland man is the first from the county younger than the 40-49 age range to die from virus-related complications.
Data now reported on the site assumes about 1,100 residents of the nearly 1,800 in the county who have contacted the virus have now recovered.
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.
Saturday’s geographical totals are listed below with Friday’s numbers in parenthesis:
▪ Bonney Lake: 44 (no change)
▪ Central Pierce County: 130 (128)
▪ East Pierce County: 48 (47)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 85 (no change)
▪ Frederickson: 60 (59)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 52 (no change)
▪ Graham: 54 (53)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 7 (no change)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 44 (no change)
▪ Lakewood: 183 (184)
▪ Parkland: 96 (94)
▪ Puyallup: 125 (120)
▪ South Hill: 99 (98)
▪ South Pierce County: 38 (no change)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 21 (no change)
▪ Spanaway: 62 (59)
▪ Tacoma: 573 (567)
▪ University Place: 58 (no change)
▪ Unknown: 8 (no change)
Daily reports include cases received by 11:59 p.m. the previous day.
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS CAN NOW APPLY FOR COVID-19 GRANTS
Updated 1 p.m.
Child care providers around Washington can now apply for COVID-19 grants to support their business needs and expenses, the state Department of Children, Youth and Families announced in a bulletin Friday.
“Funding is available on a first come, first serve basis, so we encourage you to apply early,” the bulletin says.
Applications can be completed online, printed out and scanned or photographed and emailed to the department, or sent via the U.S. Postal Service.
“Thank you for your patience,” the department wrote on Twitter Friday. “COVID-19 grant applications are open now! All licensed child care providers serving children can apply for funding to support their business needs and expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
FIREFIGHTER TESTS POSITIVE AS DNR PREPARES FOR WILDFIRE SEASON
Updated 12 p.m.
The state Department of Natural Resources learned Thursday one of its firefighters has tested positive for COVID-19.
It is the first positive case DNR has reported as Washington prepares for what officials say could be a “catastrophic” wildfire season due to drier-than-usual conditions on the eastern side of the state, and potential strain on resources due to the ongoing pandemic.
The seasonal firefighter who tested positive — a wildfire engine crew leader in the northeast region of the state — was scheduled to report June 1. A representative from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been assigned to monitor the case, Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz said.
The individual did have contact with another wildfire engine crew leader who has not shown symptoms, but is self-monitoring and currently working remotely, Franz said.
“It does show you how significant this challenge is going to be of helping keep our firefighters safe amongst this pandemic,” she said.
Many of the firefighters from around the country and the National Guardsmen the state typically relies on are now assigned to help with the pandemic response.
Franz said the state is not expecting to have the “same level of resources” from federal agencies and partners to combat wildfires this summer as it has had in the past. One estimate suggests the number of available firefighters who are typically moved around the country during the summer is between 17-22% lower this year. This is due to the COVID-19 response delaying movement between states or some being in isolation or quarantine, State Forester George Geissler said.
To combat virus spread while trying to manage wildfires, DNR is using personal protective equipment, increasing sanitation efforts, practicing social distancing, and minimizing the amount of time firefighters will be on the front line, Geissler said.
It is also looking at increased use of aviation and pre-positioning resources to access fires quicker “with maybe fewer personnel on the ground and in close proximity with each other,” he said.
DNR responded to 263 wildfires between Jan. 1 and May 12 — more than doubling the 10-year average of 103 during that stretch — with more than 75% occurring in eastern Washington.
Warmer and drier-than-usual weather has contributed to the uptick, Franz said, and conditions are projected to worsen this summer.
PIERCE COUNTY HAS DISTRIBUTED $21 MILLION IN CARES ACT FUNDING
Updated 11 a.m.
Pierce County announced Saturday the next $17 million of the $158 million allocated to the county by the federal CARES Act has been distributed as part of the COVID-19 recovery response.
“I appreciate how quickly our leaders have worked to plan for and distribute these badly needed funds,” Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier said in a release. “Getting money out to our residents, small businesses and nonprofits will speed their recovery.”
The county has now distributed $21 million of its allocated funds after disbursing nearly $4 million last month to provide small business loans, rental assistance and emergency food support.
The remainder of the CARES Act funding will continue to be allocated throughout 2020.
Here is the breakdown of fund distribution to date from the county’s release:
Public health emergency response
▪ Community-based testing — test kits: $2,500,000
▪ COVID-19 public health communications and community outreach: $435,000
▪ Public health investigations — equipment: $515,040
▪ Personal Protective Equipment — public health, testing, and surge PPE for ongoing response: $3,715,000
Economic stabilization and recovery programs
▪ Emergency small business loan relief program: $640,000
▪ Emergency small business loan relief program expansion: $3,000,000
▪ COVID-19 response kits PPE: $1,597,900
▪ Emergency small business loan relief program: $3,000,000
Community response and resilience
▪ Emergency food network: $250,000
▪ Emergency homeless sheltering: $250,000
▪ Emergency food network — additional funding: $500,000
▪ Maintain homeless supports and shelter capacity: $1,350,000
▪ Veterans emergency COVID-19 assistance: $400,000
▪ Rental assistance: $3,000,000
Essential government services
▪ Remote meetings and remote work: $370,000
More information about the county’s current COVID-19 response and recovery initiatives can be found on its website.
FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED AT SEA-TAC BEGINNING MONDAY
Updated 10 a.m.
Beginning Monday, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will require all passengers, visitors and airport workers to wear face coverings in public areas of the airport.
“During this public health emergency, we are asking travelers and workers to join with us in adopting these new habits,” Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins said in a release Friday. “Wearing a face covering, washing and sanitizing our hands more often, and providing one another with plenty of space show care and concern for one another, especially our most vulnerable. When each of us does our part, travel becomes safer for all of us.”
The face covering policy — which requires individuals to cover their mouths and noses — reinforces what was already a common practice at the airport.
“The Port of Seattle began encouraging its employees to wear face coverings and provided all employees in public-facing roles with two fabric masks on April 17,” the release says. “All federal agencies that operate at the airport now require their employees to wear face coverings or job specific personal protective equipment (PPE), and all airlines operating at (Sea-Tac) require employees and passengers to wear face coverings.”
Alaska Airlines, the chosen airline of 49% of passengers flying out of Sea-Tac in 2019, implemented a similar face mask policy earlier this month.
There is no requirement for the type of material used for a face covering, the Port of Seattle’s release says, but it must cover the nose and mouth.
There are some individuals exempt from the new policy, including children younger than 2 years old and those who “cannot medically tolerate facial coverings.” Individuals may also remove coverings to eat or drink, as long as 6 feet of distance can be maintained from others while doing so.
“Face covering use does not replace the need to practice all other measures including physical distancing (staying away from ill people, staying home and avoiding all non-essential activities and contact with others), frequent handwashing, and avoiding touching of the face,” the release says.
The release also says travelers will “see physical changes as the airport prepares for non-essential travel to resume.”
Some changes include installing 240 hand sanitizers, installing more than 4,000 signs and other graphics to encourage social distancing, preparing 180 protective plastic barriers and increasing disinfection of high-touch areas.
Travelers will also be asked to maintain 6 feet of distance from others, remain at least four steps away from others on escalators, load no more than four people into an elevator and no more than 10 people into a train car.
The airport is also preparing a plan to implement temperature checks.
“The health, safety and wellness of our community come first,” the release says. “As more travelers return to traveling, our goal is to make (Sea-Tac) the safest airport in the country.”
Sea-Tac is currently operating at 10% of usual passenger volumes, the release says, as most Washington residents continue to avoid non-essential travel. It is typically serving about 6,300 departing passengers per day.
STATE RESPONDS TO ‘MISINFORMATION CIRCULATING ABOUT QUARANTINE ORDERS’
Updated 9 a.m.
The state Department of Health released a statement Friday saying it is “aware of rumors and misinformation circulating about quarantine orders and specialized quarantine facilities.”
The statement, issued jointly by state Secretary of Health John Wiesman and state health officer Dr. Kathy Lofy, reiterates that isolation and quarantine practices during the COVID-19 pandemic for those who are sick are “voluntary and confidential,” despite misinformation being spread about mandatory quarantine orders and specialized facilities.
“Public health officials regularly ask people who are sick with an infectious disease or may have been exposed to an infectious disease to stay at home and avoid contact with other people,” the statement says. “This strategy has been used for decades to combat the spread of tuberculosis, measles, Ebola and SARS. Our experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and with other infectious diseases shows the vast majority of people we ask are willing to follow recommendations and isolate or quarantine themselves. Isolation and quarantine at home continues to be the best option and our recommendation for those who can do so safely.”
The DOH continues to strive to provide timely and accurate information about the spread of the virus, ensure access to services for those who are sick to make staying home possible and provide safe spaces for those in need, the statement says.
Local health jurisdictions do have plans and processes in place should an involuntary isolation or quarantine be needed, the statement says, and these plans are only carried out when an individual is intentionally risking the health and safety of others.
“This authority is rarely used as a last resort when someone is intentionally putting others at risk,” the statement says. “We believe any facilities included in local health plans are most likely to be used by people who are willing to voluntarily isolate or quarantine but don’t have a safe place available to do so. Again, nearly everyone sick with COVID-19 or exposed to COVID-19 is willing to follow public health recommendations voluntarily. We greatly appreciate the willingness of people in Washington to protect others in their community.”
The Washington National Guard also responded to the spread of misinformation Friday on Twitter, as it continues to support the DOH in trying to slow the spread of the virus.
“We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – emergencies are scary enough,” one threaded post says. “Let’s not add to the fear by spreading scary rumors and misinformation.”
In a video posted to Twitter, Lt. Col. Chris Panush outlines how the Washington National Guard is working from a call center to help with voluntary contact tracing.
“Let’s say an individual tests positive for COVID-19,” Panush says in the video. “Once they have that conversation with the provider that ordered the test or requested the test, they will notify the person that they’ve contracted the disease. And then the important piece is they will ask the person, the individual that has the disease, are they willing to be contacted? If the answer is yes, then their information will go to the Department of Health and they will go into a database.”
People who may have been in contact with the person who tested positive will be called and notified they may have been exposed to the virus, though names will not be given.
“They won’t mention who it was, so there’s that confidentiality,” Panush said.
It will be recommended those individuals self-isolate or self-quarantine at home. If they are showing symptoms, they are encouraged to contact their medical provider.
Information about the possible progression of the virus is given to the DOH, which can then notify counties or local jurisdictions about potential spreading in their area.
“We’re working from a call center to ask basic questions of those who volunteer to talk to us – conversations are confidential and can end at any time,” the Washington National Guard wrote on Twitter. “We aren’t coming to your house. We won’t be enforcing isolation or quarantine recommendations.
“We aren’t using your information to investigate anyone. We are your neighbors and we’re in this together.”
INSLEE SAYS PROVIDING CONTACT INFORMATION TO RESTAURANTS WILL BE VOLUNTARY
Updated 8 a.m.
Gov. Jay Inslee issued a statement Friday offering further guidance on resuming dine-in services at restaurants and taverns, which are set to reopen at up to 50% capacity in the second phase of the state’s reopening plan.
In the statement, Inslee revised a requirement in the document released to restaurants and taverns earlier this week that outlines health and safety requirements that must be met to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The original document specifies, if the establishment offers table service, it must create a daily log of all customers — including contact information and when they visited the establishment — and maintain it for 30 days to facilitate any need for contact tracing.
Inslee’s Friday statement removes the mandatory requirement, instead asking restaurants and taverns keep a voluntary list.
“We are asking visitors to voluntarily provide contact information in case of COVID-19 exposure,” the statement says. “We only need information for one person per household. If we learn you may have been exposed to COVID-19 during your visit, the information will only be shared with public health officials. They will contact you to explain the risk, answer questions and provide resources. This information will not be used for any other purpose, including sales or marketing. If this list is not used within 30 days, it will be destroyed. This will not be required of anyone.”
Inslee’s response follows concerns raised about customer privacy issues in the initial guidance. In his televised press conference Thursday, he alluded to the possibility of submitting names and contact information to restaurants and taverns being optional instead of required.
“I think where we’re going to end up is we’re going to give customers an option about leaving a phone number or the like so that they can be contacted,” he said then.
“I do think it makes sense if you go to a restaurant and if you want to know later that you may have sat next to somebody that was infected, you may want to know about that for your own safety.”
Inslee’s Friday statement also includes a customer log template for restaurants and taverns to display for optional participation.
Phase 2 is projected to begin for most of the state on June 1. Nine counties have been granted variance to move forward ahead of schedule.
CHENEY STADIUM BLOOD DRIVE CONTINUING THROUGH END OF MAY
Updated 8 a.m.
The pop-up blood drive at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, which opened May 4, will continue to accept donations through the end of the month.
Bloodworks Northwest and the Rainiers have partnered to help satisfy the ongoing need for donations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Bloodworks Northwest needs your help to continue serving the Puget Sound region during these difficult times,” the Triple-A baseball team’s website says. “Blood donations are critical, and you can help by visiting Bloodworks NW’s pop-up donor center at Cheney Stadium this May.”
Appointments are still available on the following days:
▪ Saturday, May 16 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
▪ Monday, May 18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
▪ Thursday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
▪ Saturday, May 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
▪ Monday, May 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
▪ Thursday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
▪ Saturday, May 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Appointments must be scheduled online, and for safety of donors and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, children younger than 16 are not currently allowed at donor centers or mobile sites. Bloodworks Northwest and the Rainiers are also asking donors maintain appropriate social distance from others while waiting to give blood, and to wash or sanitize their hands regularly.
This story was originally published May 16, 2020 at 8:02 AM.
