Coronavirus updates: Inslee announces statewide mask mandate; state reports 483 new cases
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Wednesday, June 24.
Updated at 4:15 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Health on Wednesday reported 483 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and nine additional deaths.
Statewide totals have reached 29,869 cases and 1,293 deaths, up from 29,386 cases and 1,284 deaths on Tuesday.
King County continues to be the hardest hit with 9,453 cases and 604 deaths. Yakima County has 6,490 cases and 146 deaths while Snohomish County has 3,346 cases and 165 deaths. Pierce County reported 45 new cases and no deaths on Monday, bringing its totals to 2,357 cases and 84 deaths.
Garfield, the state’s least populous county, remains the only county without a reported case. Six other counties are reporting fewer than 10 cases each.
There are 43 cases that have not been assigned to a county.
There were 22 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 admitted to state hospitals on June 16, the most recent date with complete data. The total number of people who have been hospitalized in the state stood at 4,093 on Sunday.
There have been 495,498 tests conducted in the state with 6.0% 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.
Inslee announces plan for college campuses to reopen in fall
Updated at 4 p.m.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced a plan Wednesday to allow for college campuses to reopen in the fall.
Universities, colleges, technical schools and apprenticeship programs will be able to resume in-person classes starting Aug. 1 as long as they follow certain requirements, the governor’s proclamation said.
According to the proclamation some of those requirements are that:
- Schools will need to have protocols for students and personnel to “self-certify” that they haven’t had any symptoms since their last time on campus.
- They’ll also need to require anyone who has symptoms to stay home, and have places for people who live on campus to isolate if they need to.
- Visitors will be limited or prohibited.
- Campuses will have to follow public health and workplace safety requirements and laws.
- High-touch areas will need to be routinely sanitized.
- Food services will need to maintain social distancing, limit capacity, and require customers to wear face coverings, except when they’re eating.
The requirements apply regardless of the phase a county is in under the state’s Safe Start plan. State and local health authorities might decide schools in a county in phase 1 or modified phase 1 need to do more.
Pierce County reports 45 new cases
Updated at 4 p.m.
Pierce County reported 45 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday and no additional deaths.
Wednesday’s new case totals were the highest since June 19, when 33 new cases were reported.
The county’s totals are now at 2,357 cases and 84 deaths since the county’s first case was reported March 6, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
The county has reported 284 cases in the last 14 days, according to the health department. The 14-day case rate per 100,000 is 31.5, and average cases per day over the past 14 days is 20.3.
As of Wednesday, the county reported an estimated 464 active cases.
The rising levels of reported cases come as the county gears up for considering when to apply for Phase 3 of the state’s Safe Start plan.
Neighboring Thurston County moved into Phase 3 Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee implemented a new rule making masks mandatory in indoor or outdoor public places, with some exceptions, to take effect statewide starting June 26.
The new mandate builds on a tightening of restrictions after a rapid rise of cases in the Yakima area. CHI Franciscan, in response to questions, told The News Tribune on Wednesday it was treating “multiple” COVID-19 patients from that area in hospitals within its system.
The health system did not say how many specifically or which hospital.
The local health department on Wednesday introduced a new Safe Start dashboard on its website that measures Pierce County’s progress with the metrics required for safe reopening.
According to the health department’s blog: “The dashboard includes the 14-day case rate per 100,000 with a 6-day lag, as DOH requires. In addition, we show two important testing metrics — the ratio of tests per COVID-19 case and the percent of all COVID-19 tests that are positive.
“We want to see a high ratio of tests per case and a low percent positive. And we want the 14-day case rate to stay low even as we increase the number of tests. A delicate balance of many factors will ensure we stay healthy and keep the COVID-19 curve flat.”
Among the new data, the health department lists that 48 percent of its cases have no link to other cases, noting that “a lower number is better because it means less community spread.”
Another new listing is new outbreaks per week, defined as at least two cases at a location such as a workplace, child care or congregate care facility. The target is no more than two. Pierce County saw seven in the week of June 13, up from one the previous week and four the week of May 30.
No specific locations were listed on where the outbreaks occurred.
According to the health department blog: “We have seen an uptick in cases over the last several days and so far, we are not seeing any specific source. COVID-19 continues to be widespread in our community.
“We have seen more cases among those 40 and under. Very few attended a demonstration. This tells us people are going out and about and are not taking precautions. COVID-19 is affecting all age groups in Pierce County.”
The new dashboard also includes hospitalizations for COVID-19, case investigation and contact tracing metrics.
“Next week, we will begin tracking measures of our health care system’s readiness for large outbreaks,” the blog noted.
According to the new dashboard, average number of daily tests run in the county are at 517, with 2.5 percent of the tests positive, compared with a target of less than 2 percent.
That percent of positive tests differs from the state’s recorded tally of 6.5 percent positive for Pierce County on its dashboard.
That comes down to what’s counted vs. what’s not. The local health department, on its website, has long insisted that the county’s positive totals from the state did not include those tests unassigned and those from congregate care sites, and that Pierce County’s rate was likely lower. These new totals from the county also do not include serology (antibody) tests.
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.
Testing is available at various sites in the county. For more information on local testing sites, go to www.tpchd.org/covidtest.
Wednesday’s geographical case totals are listed below with previous day’s totals in parentheses:
▪ Bonney Lake: 51 (50)
▪ Central Pierce County: 160 (159)
▪ East Pierce County: 62 (61)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 107 (105)
▪ Frederickson: 79 (76)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 65 (63)
▪ Graham: 74 (71)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 9 (no change)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 63 (62)
▪ Lakewood: 239 (237)
▪ Parkland: 132 (no change)
▪ Puyallup: 167 (no change)
▪ South Hill: 120 (118)
▪ South Pierce County: 46 (45)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 25 (24)
▪ Spanaway: 77 (no change)
▪ Tacoma: 767 (748)
▪ University Place: 100 (94)
▪ Unknown: 14 (13)
Department of Justice warns of fraudulent facemask flyers
Updated at 11:45 a.m.
The Department of Justice has been made aware of postings or flyers on the internet regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the use of face masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of which include the Department of Justice’s seal.
These postings were not issued by the Department and are not endorsed by the Department.
The Department urges the public not to rely on the information contained in these postings and to visit ADA.gov for ADA information issued by the Department.
For more information and technical assistance about the ADA, please contact the ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (voice) and 800-514-0383 (TTY).
Inslee issues statewide mask mandate
Updated at 8:45 a.m.
Gov. Jay Inslee has announced that facial coverings will be mandatory in public across the state starting Friday in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
He also said there will be further requirements regarding businesses in Yakima County.
“Until a vaccine or a cure is developed, this really is going to be our best defense,” the governor said at a virtual press conference Tuesday.
There’s been an uptick in virus activity as the economy has started to reopen, he said, and science increasingly supports that masks work both to protect the person wearing one and others from infection.
The public health order from Secretary of Health John Wiesman will make masks mandatory in indoor or outdoor public places, with some exceptions.
A willful violation of the statewide order is a misdemeanor, the governor said.
Some people are exempt from the requirement: people who are deaf or hard of hearing, while they’re communicating, and children under the age of 2. Children ages 3 to 5 are not required to wear facial coverings, but it’s strongly recommended.
The governor’s office also said there will be times when it’s appropriate to take off a mask, such as sitting at a restaurant at a safe distance from others, or during solo recreation or recreation with household members.
“If you’re alone outdoors, that’s OK as long as you’re in a position where you can actually maintain social distance,” Inslee said.
People waiting at a bus stop shoulder-to-shoulder, for example, need to mask up, he explained.
And he said precautions such as social distancing 6 feet from others, hand washing, staying home when sick, and getting tested for symptoms are still important.
Washington state passes 29K cases
Updated at 8:45 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Health on Tuesday reported 516 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and eight additional deaths.
Statewide totals have reached 29,386 cases and 1,284 deaths, up from 28,870 cases and 1,276 deaths on Monday.
King County continues to have the highest numbers with 9,366 cases and 604 deaths. Yakima County has 6,435 cases and 142 deaths while Snohomish County has 3,329 cases and 164 deaths. Pierce County reported 22 new cases and no deaths on Tuesday, bringing its totals to 2,312 cases and 84 deaths.
Garfield, the state’s least populous county, remains the only county without a reported case. Six other counties are reporting fewer than 10 cases each.
There are 36 cases that have not been assigned to a county.
The total number of people who have been hospitalized in the state stood at 4,067 on Tuesday.
Washington firefighters prepare for wildfires amid virus
Updated at 8:45 a.m.
Washington state firefighters are preparing for a season of potential summer wildfires while adopting new health safety measures amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has added a new layer of uncertainty to the work of preparing for wildfire season, The Skagit Valley Herald reported Sunday.
A period of dry spring weather was followed by an onslaught of rain, sending mixed signals about the likelihood for major fires this summer.
The emergence of the coronavirus has meant firefighters also have to rethink how to work without infecting each other.
Firefighters are screened when reporting to work. Their temperatures are taken and they answer health questions such as whether they have had sore throats or fevers in recent weeks, and if they have traveled or been exposed to anyone with COVID-19.
Care is taken in the field to avoid sharing tools, move individuals and groups in as many separate vehicles as possible and sanitize vehicle interiors and equipment at the end of each shift.
Firefighters are also equipped with face masks for work that requires being in close proximity.
“Fire season isn’t going away. We can’t just work from home or take the summer off,” Jason McMillen said during a state Department of Natural Resources annual training last week.
MLB sets 60-game sked, opens July 23 or 24
Updated at 8:45 a.m.
Major League Baseball issued a 60-game schedule Tuesday night that will start July 23 or 24 in empty ballparks as the sport tries to push ahead amid the coronavirus pandemic following months of acrimony.
A dramatically altered season with games full of new rules was the final result of failed financial negotiations. But for fans eager to see any baseball this year, at least now they can look forward to opening day.
The announcement by MLB came while more players continue to test positive for the virus — at least seven on the Philadelphia Phillies alone and Colorado star Charlie Blackmon. And a stark realization remained, that if health situations deteriorate, all games could still be wiped out.
“What happens when we all get it?” Milwaukee pitcher Brett Anderson tweeted Monday.
One day after the players’ association rejected an economic agreement and left open the possibility of a grievance seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, the bickering sides agreed on an operations manual. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred then unilaterally imposed the schedule, his right under a March agreement with the union.
In a twist, the sides expanded the designated hitter to games between National League teams for the first time and instituted the radical innovation of starting extra innings with a runner on second base.
Playoff teams remain at 10 for now — there is still talk of a possible expansion. The rejected deal had called for 16 teams.
Players will start reporting for the resumption of training on July 1. It remains to be seen which players will report back to work — high-risk individuals are allowed to opt out and still receive salary and service time, but others who sit out get neither money nor the service credit needed for eligibility for free agency and salary arbitration.
Each team will play 10 games against each of its four division rivals and 20 total games against the five clubs in the corresponding regional division in the other league, according to details obtained by The Associated Press.
This will be MLB’s shortest season since 1878, a schedule of such brevity that some fans may question the legitimacy of stats and records.
This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 8:51 AM with the headline "Coronavirus updates: Inslee announces statewide mask mandate; state reports 483 new cases."
