Coronavirus update: Washington state nears 47K cases
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Monday, July 20.
Updated at 1:45 p.m.
Washington State Secretary of Health John Wiesman announced Monday that he is returning all COVID-19 Safe Start applications from counties whose applications were put on pause or pending review before Gov. Jay Inslee implemented a statewide pause on reopening plans.
By the time these applications are eligible for review, at least four weeks will have passed. Much has changed during this time period and information in the applications will be outdated.
On July 14, Inslee and Wiesman extended the pause that was announced on July 2 for any county to advance to the next phase of the Safe Start plan. This pause is anticipated to last until at least July 28.
The following county applications have been returned: Clark, Cowlitz, Jefferson, Kitsap, Klickitat, San Juan and Walla Walla.
“It remains critical that everyone continues to do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19,” Secretary Wiesman said in a release. “Wear a face covering in any public setting or place where you can’t keep at least 6 feet of distance from people who are not members of your immediate household. In addition, stay home as much as possible, limit the number of people that you interact with, wash your hands and cover your coughs and sneezes.”
Pierce County Library System launches curbside pick-up
Updated at 10:55 a.m.
The Pierce County Library System has launched curbside service. People can pick up books, movies, magazines and other items by reserving their items and scheduling a pick-up time.
“We have missed seeing our readers and are thrilled to launch Library Curbside,” Pierce County Library Executive Director Georgia Lomax said in a release. “While checkouts of online e-books and audiobooks have soared in the past four months while the library buildings continue to be closed to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, many of us are eager to turn the paper pages of a real physical book. We are excited to offer this contactless, safe service.”
Library Curbside is available at Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Parkland/Spanaway, South Hill, Summit, Sumner and University Place Pierce County Libraries seven days a week:
Sunday: 1-4:40 p.m.
Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Library Curbside at Fife Pierce County Library will be available six days a week:
Monday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tuesday: 1-7pm
Wednesday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Follow these steps to use Library Curbside:
1. Using a Pierce County Library card, select and place a hold on the books, movies or other items through the Library’s online catalog (polariscatalog.piercecountylibrary.org/polaris/default.aspx). If a person does not have a library card, they can get one immediately online at www.piercecountylibrary.org/ecard.aspx?id=1502.
2. The Library will text, email or call when items are ready for pick up.
3. Once notified hold requests are ready, reserve a time to pick up items at Library Curbside, via curbside.pcls.us, mobile app (www.piercecountylibrary.org/services/mobile-app.htm) or calling the local Pierce County Library (www.piercecountylibrary.org/branches/branch-listing.htm).
3. At the Library Curbside booking time, drive to the library and through a contactless service, staff puts the items in the trunk, near the rear of the vehicle or at a designated space for walk up/bike up service.
People can also select a Grab Bag with three staff-selected items based upon a few questions to get to know the reader.
People may also get Print Pickup of 8 ½ x 11 inch size prints at Library Curbside. Individuals may print up to $3.00 in typical print charges per week with their library card. That works out to 30 black and white copies, six color copies or a combination.
Additionally, people getting curbside service may select an Activity Pack with activities to spark ideas and creativity for all ages.
People may walk-up or bike-up for Library Curbside appointments. Those without an appointment can follow information posted outside of the library buildings, although they should expect longer wait times.
Washington state reports 920 new cases Sunday
Updated at 8:45 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Health on Sunday reported 920 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 46,946 cases and 1,447 deaths, up from 46,026 cases and 1,444 deaths on Saturday.
King County continues to be the hardest hit, with 12,558 cases and 631 deaths. Yakima County has the second-highest numbers, with 8,805 cases and 190 deaths. Pierce County reported 97 new cases and no deaths on Sunday for a total of 3,769 cases and 102 deaths.
Twenty-nine people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on July 11, the most recent date with complete data.
Washington state has now conducted 809,339 coronavirus tests with 5.8% coming back positive. The test numbers reflect only polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.
All counties in Washington are now reporting cases. Five of them have case counts of less than 10.
Puyallup braces for COVID-19 impact on budget as sales tax revenue expected to drop 25%
Updated at 8:45 a.m.
The coronavirus pandemic will hit all government budgets this year, but for those more dependent on sales tax revenue — such as Puyallup — the pain will be more severe.
Half of Puyallup’s general fund comes from a tax on sales at car dealerships, the South Hill Mall, other retail and professional services, Finance Director Barbara Lopez said. She expects a quarter of estimated sales tax revenues to disappear.
In total, Lopez is preparing for a $7 million reduction in revenue this year. The general fund is $56.2 million.
The Finance Director hopes this is a “worst-case scenario,” created by estimating a smaller return than expected in every month since the beginning of the pandemic.
Other than sales tax, Puyallup is bracing for the impact of other financial losses, like the cancellation of the Washington State Fair, which means $865,000 in revenue for Puyallup. There has also been a drop in gambling, permits and recreation programs, meaning less tax revenue.
Puyallup has taken measures to account for the financial impact of COVID-19. Fifteen city employees have been furloughed, and the city has delayed new equipment for IT and vehicle replacement, saving $2.9 million.
Street projects originally scheduled for this year have been delayed, including the Safe School program to improve walkways to schools.
Lopez said the city will have to dip into reserves, but expects that less than $500,000 will be withdrawn.
“If ever there is a good time and reason to responsibly use reserves, it is now during a pandemic,” she said.
Puyallup council members have a target reserve balance between 8% and 15% of revenues. The end of the year is estimated to be 9.7 percent of revenues.
GOP leaders at White House as virus crisis deepens
Updated at 8:45 a.m.
Top Republicans in Congress met Monday with President Donald Trump at the White House on the next COVID-19 aid package as the crisis many hoped would have improved has dramatically worsened, just as emergency relief is expiring.
New divisions between the Senate GOP majority and the White House posed fresh challenges. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was prepared to roll out the $1 trillion package in a matter of days. But the administration panned more virus testing money and interjected other priorities that could complicate quick passage.
“We have to end this virus,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Monday on MSNBC.
Pelosi said any attempt by the White House to block testing money “goes beyond ignorance.”
Lawmakers were returning to a Capitol still off-limits to tourists, another sign of the nation’s difficulty containing the coronavirus. Rather than easing, the pandemic’s devastating cycle was happening all over again, leaving Congress little choice but to engineer another costly rescue. Businesses were shutting down again, schools could not fully reopen and jobs were disappearing, all while federal aid expired.
Without a successful federal strategy, lawmakers are trying to draft one.
Trump insisted again Sunday that the virus would “disappear,” but the president’s view did not at all match projections from the leading health professionals straining to halt the alarming U.S. caseload and death toll.
“It’s not going to magically disappear,” said a somber McConnell, R-Ky., last week during a visit to a hospital in his home state to thank front-line workers.
McConnell and House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy were set to meet with Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin “to fine-tune” the legislation, acting chief of staff Mark Meadows said on Fox News.
Thousands of Tacoma youth have nowhere to go this summer as COVID-19 decimates programs
Updated at 8:45 a.m.
Don’t be surprised this summer if you see more young people out and about.
COVID-19 is upending summer plans across the state, including costing Tacoma youth around 4,000 in-person programming slots, from overnight camps to cooking classes, according to a study by the Foundation for Tacoma Students.
“COVID has forced everyone across the globe to rethink the way they do programming — Tacoma, Washington, is no different,” Tafona Ervin, executive director of the Foundation for Tacoma Students, told The News Tribune in a Zoom call this week.
“We may see more students and youth walking among our streets of Tacoma that perhaps have never walked before, or have not been seen in great populations — and I mean that in groups of five or 10, where it may pique residents’ curiosity over why they’re there,” she said.
The foundation typically tracks activities of students over the summer months, and estimates that an average of 6,000 to 8,000 participate in summer programs. This year, after a quick check with its partners, the foundation found that there would be 3,000 fewer in-person slots available, and half of those would be virtual.
“At least half of the programs we think are going to be available are not,” Ervin said.
Young people from kindergarten to 12th grade will see the loss of nearly 2,000 summer programming slots, according to the foundation’s data.
The majority of lost spots come from the Boys & Girls Club, which typically has 2,000 spots but is down to 475 this year. The Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Metro Parks Tacoma and Tacoma Art Museum will also see capacity decreases.
This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 8:50 AM.
