Coronavirus updates: County variance criteria expanded; lawsuits filed against gyms
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Tuesday, May 20.
Updated at 2:35 p.m.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced new criteria for additional counties to apply for variances to move to Phase 2 of the state’s Safe Start recovery plan.
Under the plan, smaller counties can apply for a variance from the order which would allow them to open even more businesses than allowed statewide. Counties are now eligible to apply if they have less than 10 new cases per 100,000 residents over a 14-day span.
Under the new criteria, 10 additional counties will be eligible to apply for a variance. They are: Adams, Clark, Clallam, Island, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Thurston, San Juan and Spokane
The new criteria are similar to the guidance released by the CDC for reopening regions nationwide. Increasing the counties eligible for variance will allow for increased economic activity around the state while also prioritizing the health and safety of workers and customers to limit the spread of COVID-19.
As of Monday, 10 counties have already been approved to move into Phase 2. Twenty-two counties in the state are eligible in total. Combined, these counties represent 30% of the state.
Pierce County reports 20 new cases
Updated at 2:35 p.m.
Pierce County on Tuesday reported 20 new COVID-19 cases and two new deaths.
The county’s totals now stand at 1,821 cases and 70 deaths, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Daily case totals can change as the county receives new information about cases, finds duplicate data or is assigned cases originally attributed to other counties.
The two new deaths include a Puyallup man in his 80s and a Tacoma man in his 70s. Both had underlying health conditions.
The county’s COVID-19 tracking page estimated the number of still-active confirmed cases at 666 on Tuesday, with 1,155 assumed recovered.
There have been 21,344 coronavirus tests run on Pierce County residents with 7.9 percent of them positive as of May 17, according to the state Department of Health data. That total does not include negative tests from long-term care facilities or tests not yet assigned to a county, according to the county health department.
Tuesday’s geographical case totals are listed below with previous day’s totals in parentheses:
▪ Bonney Lake: 44 (no change)
▪ Central Pierce County: 132 (130)
▪ East Pierce County: 49 (no change)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 87 (85)
▪ Frederickson: 64 (no change)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 52 (no change)
▪ Graham: 54 (no change)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 7 (no change)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 46 (45)
▪ Lakewood: 185 (183)
▪ Parkland: 101 (100)
▪ Puyallup: 128 (127)
▪ South Hill: 100 (99)
▪ South Pierce County: 38 (no change)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 21 (no change)
▪ Spanaway: 63 (62)
▪ Tacoma: 583 (576)
▪ University Place: 59 (58)
▪ Unknown: 8 (no change)
Sound Transit receives $166 million in federal COVID-19 funding
Updated at 2:35 p.m.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced Tuesday that Sound Transit will receive more than $166 million for COVID-19 relief. The funding comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which passed Congress in March.
Sound Transit will be able to use the funds for operating costs, maintenance, disinfecting vehicles and keeping drivers safe across its light rail, bus paratransit, and other transit services in order to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Here’s what Senator Cantwell had to say about the new funding for Sound Transit:
“Ensuring continued Sound Transit light rail and bus service is critical for the essential workers in the Puget Sound region who are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19,” Sen. Maria Cantwell said in a release. “This funding provided by Congress in the CARES Act will help do just that and that’s why I’m glad Sound Transit is getting the resources they need.”
Lawsuits filed against two gyms in violation of stay-home order
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced consumer protection lawsuits against two gyms that continue to operate in violation of Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” proclamation.
Both business owners have received multiple warnings from officials that, by continuing to operate, they were endangering public health. In addition, officials say the gyms are gaining an unfair advantage over their competitors who are complying with the proclamation, which violates the Consumer Protection Act.
Ferguson has given both businesses one final opportunity to avoid monetary penalties. Ferguson’s letter informs both business that the state will not seek monetary penalties if the businesses close within 24 hours. If the businesses refuse to close, the state will seek monetary penalties as well as the costs and fees of bringing the actions.
The business owners, Michael J. Baker and Shane D. Cowhig of Fitness 101 Team Puyallup, more commonly known as Northwest Fitness Co., and Michael and Richard Jellison of Power Alley Fitness, more commonly known as PA Fitness, in Arlington, received multiple warnings about remaining open. On Friday, both businesses received cease and desist letters as final warnings to cease operating within 48 hours or face a lawsuit.
“We understand the financial impact of Stay Home, Stay Health on small businesses, but that does not exempt you from the requirement to remain closed,” the letters read. “The Stay Home, Stay Health order is necessary for public health. The COVID-19 virus spreads easily from person to person and the only way to control it, and save lives, is to maintain social distancing, including closing nonessential businesses. By keeping your business open, you are endangering the lives of your customers and your community.
“It is also unfair to your competitors for you to be open for business while they are complying with the Proclamation and making sacrifices for the benefit of the community. Opening your business when competing fitness centers have closed as required by law to protect the health of all Washingtonians gives you an unfair advantage over your competitors. In order to level the playing field and ensure the market is fair for all, you must close your doors.”
Despite these warnings, the businesses continue to operate. As a result, the Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit late yesterday against each business and their owners.
A court can impose monetary penalties of up to $2,000 per violation of the Consumer Protection Act.
These consumer protection lawsuits to enforce the Governor’s order are civil actions, and do not preclude criminal charges by local prosecutors if warranted. The Attorney General’s Office does not have original criminal jurisdiction.
In addition to the state’s lawsuit, the City of Arlington notified PA Fitness owners in the form of a letter sent May 14 that, because they are operating unlawfully, the city has the right to revoke their business license, impose daily penalties, seek a court order to stop their operation, and refer the case for criminal prosecution. The city also offered to assist the owners in accessing relief programs and education about how to re-open when it is safe to do so.
Inslee releases guidance for pet groomers
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
Gov. Jay Inslee issued guidance for resuming pet grooming operations in Phase 2.
Through the Washington “Safe Start” plan, more businesses and activities will re-open in phases, with adequate safety and health standards in place. Each phase will be at least three weeks.
Additionally, counties with a population of less than 75,000 that have not had a new case of COVID-19 in the past three weeks can apply for a variance to move to Phase 2 of “Safe Start” before other parts of the state. County variance applications will be approved or denied by the secretary of the Department of Health. Ten counties have received the variance.
Businesses in the pet grooming sector must adopt a written procedure for pet grooming services activity that is at least as strict as the Phase 2 safety requirements. A full list of those requirements is available here.
For counties granted variance to move to Phase 2, pet grooming operations may resume immediately if:
- They can meet and maintain all requirements, including providing materials, schedules and equipment needed to comply; and
- They conduct only those activities that are allowed under their county’s phase status.
The “pet grooming industry” includes individuals, retail operations, veterinarian clinics, and other facilities that provide cleaning, trimming, and hygienic services for domestic animals.
Tacoma school year extended due to COVID-19 impacts
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
Tacoma Public School has extended its school year by three days as the district works to make up lost instruction hours caused by impacts of COVID-19.
The last day of school is now Friday, June 19.
Tacoma students lost five days of instructional hours after Gov. Jay Inslee closed schools across the state on March 13 to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
TPS started the year with 176 days of instruction, with the loss bringing that down to 171 days, below the 1,027 instructional hours required by state law.
To make up for the lost instructional time, the district is adding three days to the end of the calendar year.
It added another instructional day back on April 27, which was originally supposed to be a no-school waiver day.
The make-up days brings the district’s total to 175 days and 1,057 instructional hours for the year, above the state requirement.
Tacoma Public Schools requires teachers to take attendance of its students at the last day of every week. Attendance is measured by students having at least one engagement with their teachers that week by emailing their teacher, participating in a virtual meeting, talking on the phone or completing an online lesson.
Washington state reports 178 new cases and 1 death
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Health on Monday reported 178 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and one new death.
Statewide totals are now at 18,611 cases and 1,002 deaths, up from 18,433 cases and 1,001 deaths on Sunday.
Pierce County reported eight new cases and no new deaths on Monday. It was the second day in a row without deaths in the county.
King County continues to have the highest numbers with 7,515 cases and 528 deaths. Snohomish County has 2,797 cases and 125 deaths.
Washington’s least populous county, Garfield, remains the only county in the state without a case. Eight other counties are reporting fewer than 10 cases each.
Washington state has conducted 289,135 coronavirus tests with 6 percent coming back positive. The test numbers reflect only polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which are given to patients while the virus is presumably still active in the body.
Elective surgeries, dental services can resume, Inslee announces
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
Elective surgeries and dental services can resume as long as providers comply with health and safety protocols to guard against COVID-19, Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Monday.
The governor called the move an important step in helping Washington residents maintain their health as the state gradually reopens.
The restrictions on elective surgeries and dental services had been in effect since March 19 to ensure that health care workers had enough personal protective equipment.
“We’ve managed the peak of the COVID-19 assault without having our hospitals or our medical systems absolutely overrun,” Inslee said at a press conference Monday.
The state is requiring practitioners to:
▪ Have appropriate personal protective equipment for employees.
▪ Implement social distancing and strong hygiene measures within their offices and hospitals
▪ Screen patients and visitors for symptoms.
▪ Use their clinical judgment for what is considered necessary, using telemedicine when appropriate.
▪ Implement policies to protect workers and seek their feedback.
“If they cannot procure [personal protective equipment], then they’ll have to delay until that is satisfied,” Inslee said.
Sally Watkins, executive director of the Washington State Nurses Association, said the group remains concerned about the limited availability, cleaning procedures and reuse of surgical masks, N95 respirators, and face shields.
“We’ve had nurses laid off or furloughed and are eager to see them to be able to return to work, but we want them to do so safely with the right amount of [personal protective equipment] and other supplies,” she said.
Also, Inslee said if a region of the state has an outbreak of COVID-19, hospitals need to be ready to handle the demand for hospital beds, staff, and ventilators.
Lacey Police Department employee tests positive for COVID-19
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
A Lacey Police Department employee has tested positive for COVID-19, the interim chief confirmed Monday.
Chief Robert Almada said Monday they learned of the positive test on Friday. The department has since taken immediate action to sanitize all equipment and vehicles, above and beyond what the department had already been doing, he said.
No other employees of the roughly 65-person department have tested positive, he said.
“We continue to deliver police services without interruption,” Almada said.
Almada declined to describe what kind of work the employee does for the department. It has been over a week since that person last worked, and that person is now recovering at home, he said.
The chief said the department also has enhanced social distancing, and is seeking testing of its employees on a voluntary basis. Those who telework will continue to do so, he said. He also said the department has the necessary personal protective equipment for the pandemic.
Asked whether the infected employee interacted with the public, Almada said contact tracing will be handled by the state Department of Health.
He also has reached out to other law enforcement departments in the area to “assure there is no interruption in police services.”
Veteran Monroe prison guard dies of COVID-19
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
The COVID-19 outbreak at the Monroe Correctional Complex has claimed the life of a guard.
The state Department of Corrections said Monday evening that Correctional Officer Berisford Morse, 65, died Sunday from complications of COVID-19. He is the first staff member to die from the virus.
“It is a tragedy to lose a member of our public safety community and correctional family,” state Secretary of Corrections Stephen Sinclair said in a written statement. ”Our hearts go out to Officer Morse’s grieving family and the sacrifice they have made.”
Morse worked in the Minimum Security Unit of the Monroe Correctional Complex that has had 18 inmates and nine staff members test positive for COVID-19.
DOC said Morse last worked at the Minimum Security Unit on April 24. That evening, Morse contacted the shift commander to report he had symptoms of COVID-19, was going to seek medical attention and get tested. The Monroe Correctional Complex was notified on April 27 that Morse had tested positive for COVID-19.
Morse had worked for the prison system since October 2003. He was a community corrections officer for seven months in 2013 and the remainder of his tenure was as a correctional officer at the Monroe Correctional Complex.
DOC is honoring Morse’s death as a line-of-duty death and will consult with the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial-Behind the Badge Foundation and the Department of Labor & Industries.
UW Medicine furloughs 1,500 staffers, with more possible
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
Furloughs due to the pandemic have been announced by UW Medicine, which has been at the forefront of local and global COVID-19 efforts including the creation of widely used outbreak models and processing most of Washington state’s diagnostic tests.
CEO Dr. Paul Ramsey last week announced an unprecedented $500 million budget shortfall. On Monday, UW Medicine officials announced one- to eight-week furloughs for 1,500 professional staff, which includes management and administrative workers, The Seattle Times reported.
Management and unions will bargain over furloughs for unionized staffers and could have an agreement by later this week, according to Dr. Lisa Brandenburg, president of UW Medicine Hospitals and Clinics.
Additional proposed cost-saving measures include reduced pay for senior leadership, pausing some capital projects, a hiring freeze for jobs not associated with patient care, and a halt to discretionary spending.
The system pays about $90 million a month in wages. The furloughs are expected to save $15 million between now and August.
“What we are doing right now is taking these temporary measures to preserve as many jobs as possible,” Brandenburg said.
UW Medicine has cemented itself as a key resource in connection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The medical school’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has about 90 people working on virus modeling for all 50 states and for some European nations, with plans to create models for every county in the United States.
At the core of UW Medicine’s financial trouble is a loss of revenue from elective surgeries, which were paused at the height of the surge of COVID-19 patients into hospitals. Revenue shortfalls account for about $327 million of the estimated losses since March, according to a report given last week to the UW Board of Regents.
The system had been doing well financially heading into March, with UW Medical Center about $10 million ahead of budget forecasts.
UW Medicine will try to have some of its losses covered by federal and state programs, including FEMA, the government’s $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package and the Medicare advance payment program, Ramsey wrote in an email obtained by The Seattle Times. It will also pursue philanthropic donations through its Emergency Response Fund, he wrote.
Whatever UW Medicine does get from the state or Congress won’t be enough to cover its losses. The most important factor will be getting elective procedures and clinical patients back, Ramsey said.
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 8:31 AM.
