Coronavirus Update: Yakima moves into modified Phase 1, more test positive in UW fraternities
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Friday, July 3.
The Washington State Department of Health on Friday reported 627 new cases of COVID-19 and ten additional deaths.
Statewide totals have reached 34,778 COVID-19 cases and 1,352 fatalities.
King County continues to be the hardest hit with 10,634 cases and 618 deaths. Yakima County has 7,349 cases and 160 deaths while Snohomish County has 3,639 cases and 173 deaths.
Pierce County reported 66 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday and no additional deaths.
Totals are now 2,705 cases and 90 deaths since the county’s first case was reported March 6, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
The last time Pierce County saw a daily count higher that Friday was April 2, with 69 cases.
Counties move into Phase 1.5
Yakima, Benton and Franklin counties have been approved to move into a modified Phase 1 plan of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start plan.
The Washington State Secretary of Health John Wiesman approved their applications on Friday.
Now, there are no counties left in Phase 1. The expanded Phase 1 allows for some restrictions to be eased.
Some businesses in these counties can partially reopen to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Allowed activities in Yakima, Benton and Franklin include:
- Follow Phase 2 guidance on construction and manufacturing
- Restaurants can open at 50 percent capacity for outdoor seating
- In-store retail will be allowed at 15 percent of capacity and indoor activities will be limited to 30 minutes.
- Personal services, like salons and barber shops, can open at 25 percent capacity
- Dog Groomers can reopen at 25 percent capacity
No gatherings of people outside of the household apart from small behavioral health support groups of less than five people.
As of Friday, five counties are in an expanded Phase 1, 17 are in each Phase 2 and Phase 3. Pierce, King and Snohomish are still in Phase 2. Thurston has reached Phase 3.
Inslee announced Thursday a pause on all county applications to move into the next phase. Counties will remain in their current phase for at lease two weeks.
“Any applications that the department has under review will be paused until at least July 16,” a press release from the state said.
For more information, visit the Washington Department of Health.
More test positive at UW frats
The University of Washington reports that more than 105 living in fraternities have tested positive for COVID-19. The Greek houses near campus had reduced occupancy by 50 percent in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the university said.
A release from the university said none of the infected students have required hospitalization or suffered severe symptoms.
More than 20 proclamations extended
Inslee announced the extension of 23 proclamations in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The state Legislature approved the extensions until August 1.
The declarations include the following:
- waiving and suspending renewals of driver’s licenses and identification cards
- declaring a state of emergency, directing state agencies and departments to continue utilizing state resources to curb COVID-19
extending the waiver and suspension of rules relating to a one-week waiting period to collect unemployment insurance
waiving the job search requirement of those getting unemployment benefits
prohibiting utility companies from disconnecting or charging late fees for unpaid accounts
waiving administrative requirements to license health care providers
This story was originally published July 3, 2020 at 11:43 AM.
