Coronavirus updates: Workers required to wear masks starting June 8; Potato Commission to give away 100K
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Saturday, May 30.
STATE REPORTS 278 NEW CASES, 7 DEATHS
Updated 4 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Health reported 278 new cases of COVID-19 and seven deaths Saturday.
Statewide totals have reached 21,349 cases and 1,118 deaths, up from 21,071 cases and 1,111 deaths Friday.
King County remains the hardest hit with 7,993 cases and 567 deaths, while Yakima County has 3,458 cases and 95 deaths and Snohomish County has 2,956 cases and 148 deaths.
Pierce County reported 12 new cases Saturday, bringing its totals to 1,928 cases and 73 deaths.
Seventeen of the state’s 39 counties have reported more than 100 cases, and 11 counties have reported at least 10 virus-related deaths.
Garfield, the state’s least populous county, remains the only county without a reported case. Seven other counties are reporting fewer than 10 cases each.
There are 61 cases that have not been assigned to a county.
There were 26 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 admitted to state hospitals on May 22, the most recent date with complete data. The total number of people who have been hospitalized in the state stood at 3,480 on Saturday.
There have been 354,354 tests conducted in the state with 6% 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.
FRAUD SCAM TARGETING SECURE ACESS WASHINGTON USERS
Updated 3 p.m.
The Prevailing Wage program has been informed of activity that may impact Secure Access Washington users, according to a Friday release from the state Department of Labor and Industries.
“The responsible cyber-criminals are sending fake Secure Access Washington (SAW) emails in an attempt to trick you into providing your account credentials,” the release says. “Users are told they have 24 hours to correct inaccurate information and that failure to comply will lead to restrictions on their SAW account.”
SAW administrators “will never send users an email asking for validation of account details,” the release says.
The department asks users to “be vigilant and watch for emails that appear to be suspicious.”
PIERCE COUNTY REPORTS 12 NEW CASES, NO DEATHS
Updated 2:15 p.m.
Pierce County reported 12 new COVID-19 cases Saturday. No additional deaths were reported.
The county’s totals are now at 1,928 cases and 73 deaths since the outbreak began. There have been 77 people with COVID-19 in the county who have died, with the 73 deaths likely caused by the virus, according to the 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 county’s data estimates 1,451 of the confirmed cases have recovered, while 477 are still assumed active.
There have been 25,634 tests conducted in the county with positive results at 7.4%, according to the state Department of Health.
That total does not include negative tests from long-term care facilities or the 83,000 tests not yet assigned to a county.
Saturday’s geographical case totals are listed below with Friday’s totals in parentheses:
▪ Bonney Lake: 48 (no change)
▪ Central Pierce County: 141 (140)
▪ East Pierce County: 53 (no change)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 89 (88)
▪ Frederickson: 65 (no change)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 54 (53)
▪ Graham: 56 (55)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 7 (no change)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 48 (no change)
▪ Lakewood: 202 (199)
▪ Parkland: 108 (no change)
▪ Puyallup: 138 (no change)
▪ South Hill: 104 (no change)
▪ South Pierce County: 37 (no change)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 21 (no change)
▪ Spanaway: 66 (65)
▪ Tacoma: 619 (617)
▪ University Place: 63 (62)
▪ Unknown: 9 (no change)
Daily reports include cases received by 11:59 p.m. the previous day.
Pierce County remains in Phase 1 of the state’s reopening plan, though it could receive approval to move forward as soon as next week.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced new criteria for applying for Phase 2 during a press conference Friday.
Counties previously needed fewer than 10 cases per 100,000 residents over a 14-day period to be eligible to apply, but following Inslee’s update Friday, counties now need fewer than 25 new cases per 100,000 residents.
Pierce County confirmed 17.1 new cases per 100,000 residents during the past 14 days — or 154 cases in 14 days for an average of 11 new cases per day.
County officials have already indicated intent to submit an application to the state Monday to move into Phase 2.
“We’ve been making what I hope is a very compelling case to the governor that the people of Pierce County are ready to responsibly and safely move to Phase 2,” Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier said during Friday’s COVID-19 Business Info Series call.
“We’ve got small businesses, we’ve got families that are hanging on by their fingernails, and I want to make sure we are getting to Phase 2 as quickly as possible.”
The county Board of Health has a meeting scheduled for Sunday to discuss the application, and the Pierce County Council has a special meeting planned for 10 a.m. Monday.
Both must approve the application before it can be sent to the state.
Other Phase 2 standards Pierce County must meet to move forward include the following:
▪ Hospitals need to have a flat or decreasing number of positive COVID-19 cases.
▪ The average number of tests performed per day during the past week should be 50 times the number of cases, or 2%.
▪ A limited number of outbreaks — zero for counties with populations of fewer than 75,000, one for counties with populations of 75,000-300,000, two for large counties with populations greater than 300,000, three for counties of 1 million or more. (An outbreak is considered two or more cases at a single location.)
▪ 90% of cases reached by phone or in person within 24 hours of receipt of positive lab test report.
▪ Less than 10% of capacity of licensed hospital beds are occupied by suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases.
SEA-TAC CONTINUES TO PREPARE FOR PASSENGER INCREASE
Updated 12 p.m.
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport continues to prepare for an uptick in passengers as counties enter new phases of Washington state’s COVID-19 recovery plan.
In a weekly bulletin published Friday, the Port of Seattle outlined several updates to airport safety protocols in place to slow the spread of the virus.
“Most passengers continue to follow state guidance to avoid non-essential travel, actions that help us maintain the health and safety of those performing essential work,” the bulletin says. “Forecasts show passenger volume increasing with as many as 12,000 departing screened passengers on the busiest days next week.”
Here are actions the airport has taken to support public health, according to the bulletin:
▪ Installed 240 interim signs (complete)
▪ Installed 600 floor markings for social distancing (complete)
▪ Installing 180 plastic protective barriers to act as a buffer between travelers and airport employees (58% complete)
▪ Installed 258 hand sanitizer stations throughout the terminal, and added an interactive map to its app with sanitizer locations
▪ Spent 5,720 hours cleaning and disinfecting the buses and terminal at Sea-Tac each week (91,520 total hours since February)
▪ Dispensed 706 gallons of hand sanitizer, over 4,200 ounces of disinfectant spray and 700 containers of sanitizer wipes in response to the virus
The bulletin also outlines how airport procedures now differ for travelers and workers, including requiring all to wear face coverings in public areas.
“We are developing a plan to implement temperature checks for departing domestic and arriving international passengers,” the bulletin says.
Dining and retail tenants at the airport have also been required to develop plans for operating safely.
“This is just the beginning,” the bulletin says. “We are hard at work planning for a busier terminal and better times ahead.”
POTATO COMMISSION TO GIVE AWAY 100K IN THURSTON COUNTY
Updated 10 a.m.
The Washington Potato Commission announced Friday it will give away 100,000 potatoes Tuesday in Thurston County.
The giveaway will begin at 11 a.m. at Freightliner Northwest, which is located at 13232 Case Road SW in Olympia.
Potatoes will be given out first come, first served, and will be bagged to be loaded directly into vehicles.
Food banks can make arrangements with the Potato Commission to pick up a pallet by calling 509-765-8845 or emailing office@potatoes.com.
““It’s times like these we all need to come together to help our neighbors,” the commission said in a statement. “We have all seen what amazing hearts people have and it has been a humbling experience for all of us involved.”
Freightliner Northwest, which partnered with the Potato Commission for the event, asks those picking up potatoes to use specific exits — from northbound I-5, take Exit 95; from southbound I-5, take Exit 99 — to avoid traffic backups.
TACOMA SCHOOLS PLANNING FOR ‘A DIFFERENT MODEL’ FOR 2020-21
Updated 9 a.m.
The Tacoma Public Schools Board of Directors opened discussions Thursday about a safe return to school in the fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the meeting, district staff outlined guiding principles for selecting one of the return-to-school models provided by the state, which are expected to be released between June 8-12.
The guiding principles the district will consider include:
▪ Reduced person-to-person contact, including staff and students
▪ Fewer students and staff on site at any time
▪ Families on similar schedules
▪ Consider alternative definitions of full-time and part-time
▪ New roles needed to support learning
Preliminary models were provided by the state to school districts earlier this month, and are currently under review by a state work group. Some options include traditional on-site, face-to-face school, split or rotating schedules with distance learning or phased reopening of school facilities.
“They are signaling to school districts that they need to be prepared for a different model,” deputy superintendent Josh Garcia said during Thursday’s meeting.
The district is sending out surveys to families asking what has been working or what support they would like to see.
A virtual town hall is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday. Families can watch on the district’s Facebook page or at tacomaschools.tv. Questions families want addressed can be submitted online.
WORKERS REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS BEGINNING JUNE 8
Updated 8:30 a.m.
Workers around Washington state who interact with customers and coworkers will be required to wear facial coverings beginning June 8, Gov. Jay Inslee said Friday.
The requirement is waived for employees working alone in an office, vehicle or job site, or if they don’t have “in-person interactions” such as being regularly within 6 feet of others.
“We have now shown that facial coverings can be very effective in protecting the other person,” Inslee said during a press conference Friday. “When I wear it, it can protect you. … When we do an individual small thing, it can have a huge impact on another person’s life, namely that they don’t become infected.”
Inslee said COVID-19 “can increase dramatically, very rapidly and you’re seeing that in various places around the world right now,” making the wearing of masks needed as the state continues with its phased reopening plan.
Employers must provide their employees with facial coverings, Inslee said, but employees may also use their own if they meet certain standards — such as fully covering their nose and mouth, and extending below their chin.
The state can cite and fine a business if it doesn’t follow the guidance on face coverings, said Tim Church, a spokesman for the state Department of Labor and Industries.
Stores will also be required to display signs encouraging the wearing of facial coverings.
“That is a legal requirement if they are going to reopen,” Inslee said. “There is an order, if you will, but this is a matter of common sense, commitment and compassion. ... We think we’re going to get large compliance with this because it just makes sense, and we know it’s working and it is becoming culturally kind of the norm.”
Dr. John B. Lynch, the medical director of the Infectious Diseases Clinic at the Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, said during Friday’s press conference the need to wear facial coverings stems from what health officials have learned about the virus the past several months.
“We have learned that a lot of people have minimal symptoms and are infected and can transmit the virus,” Lynch said. “People have talked about this idea of asymptomatic cases. It’s still out as to whether people are asymptomatic during the entire duration of their infection or it’s really just before they develop symptoms.
“But in either case, those people have no symptoms right now and they may be able to spread the virus and they don’t know it. The same thing happens with influenza. This is not unique to this particular virus. So putting a mask on people all the time — regardless of symptoms — helps potentially interrupt that chain.”
NEW STATE GUIDELINES FAVORABLE FOR PIERCE COUNTY TO MOVE INTO PHASE 2
Updated 8 a.m.
Washington state will relax some of its standards for moving into new phases of the state’s COVID-19 recovery plan, Gov. Jay Inslee announced in a press conference Friday.
Inslee’s current stay-at-home order expires Sunday, and counties will be evaluated individually moving forward.
One of the new standards Inslee announced was allowing counties to have more cases per 100,000 in population over a 14-day period to be eligible to move forward in the state’s four-phased reopening plan. The new standard is 25 cases per 100,000, while the previous standard was 10.
This is a favorable development for Pierce County, which, as of Friday, had averaged 18.3 new cases per 100,000 residents during the past 14 days, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
While the county does not meet the previous standard the state set, it would qualify for Phase 2 eligibility under Inslee’s new guidelines Friday.
“They still need to apply and meet the criteria,” Inslee said of Pierce and other counties during Friday’s press conference. “It’s not an automatic green light.”
Other criteria used to determine if a county is ready to move forward include COVID-19 testing capability, contract tracing plans, and use of masks to prevent spread.
Other Phase 2 standards include the following:
▪ Hospitals need to have a flat or decreasing number of positive COVID-19 cases.
▪ The average number of tests performed per day during the past week should be 50 times the number of cases, or 2%.
▪ A limited number of outbreaks — zero for counties with populations of fewer than 75,000, one for counties with populations of 75,000-300,000, two for large counties with populations greater than 300,000, three for counties of 1 million or more. (An outbreak is considered two or more cases at a single location.)
▪ 90% of cases reached by phone or in person within 24 hours of receipt of positive lab test report.
▪ Less than 10% of capacity of licensed hospital beds are occupied by suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Inslee said these standards are a target, not a hard-line measure.
Counties may begin to apply for the next phase Monday, and can choose to be more restrictive, but can not remove restrictions outlined by the state for each phase, Inslee said. Counties that are not yet eligible for Phase 2 can apply to begin a modified Phase 1, which will permit some limited Phase 2 activities.
Pierce County has already indicated it will send an application to the state to move forward. The county Board of Health has a meeting scheduled for Sunday to discuss the application, and the Pierce County Council has a special meeting planned for 10 a.m. Monday. Both must approve the application before it can be sent to the state.
Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier said during Friday’s COVID-19 Business Info Series call he hopes to request Phase 2 approval in the county’s application, which he hopes to submit Monday.
“I’ve been making this case to the governor for a while … that you shouldn’t treat Washington state as a monolith,” he said during the call. “We’ve been making what I hope is a very compelling case to the governor that the people of Pierce County are ready to responsibly and safely move to Phase 2.
“We’ve got small businesses, we’ve got families that are hanging on by their fingernails, and I want to make sure we are getting to Phase 2 as quickly as possible.”
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN TO OPEN FOR 2 WEEKS OF SKIING
Updated 8 a.m.
Crystal Mountain, which closed its ski area in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, says it will open for skiing and snowboarding for two weeks beginning Monday.
It will be open through June 14, according to the resort’s website.
All visitors, including season pass holders, will be required to make a reservation before arriving, and must follow new safety protocols.
Reservations open at 2 p.m. Saturday for Monday’s first set of skiing. Beyond that, reservations will be “available at 2 p.m. on June 1 for each following day,” the site says.
Reservations are first come, first served, and limited to four per group.
The Green Valley chair lift, which is accessible by the gondola, will be the only lift running, and visitors will only be allowed to ride with members of their household, or those they drove to the resort with.
“The gondola will be metered by hour with the first reservation to upload between 8 to 9 a.m. and consecutive hourly time slots until 2 p.m.,” the site says. “Once you’re on the mountain you’re welcome to enjoy the slopes in Green Valley for as long as you’d like but you must upload the gondola during your reservation arrival window — no exceptions.”
There will be a checkpoint before the upper parking lots, where visitors will have to present photo ID that matches their reservation, which will come with a gondola upload time.
Visitors should not arrive at the checkpoint more than 30 minutes before their reservation time, and need to leave by 5 p.m.
The terrain offered is advanced, and the site recommends only “skilled skiers and riders visit.”
“It is imperative that guests ski and ride safely,” the site says. “Enjoy the ski area, but this is the time for restraint. Please be conservative and practice good judgment.”
Foot passengers will not be allowed until June 19, when summer operations are expected to begin.
This story was originally published May 30, 2020 at 8:03 AM.
