Coronavirus updates: Inslee extends high-risk employee proclamation
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Thursday, July 31.
Updated at 2:40 p.m.
Pierce County on Thursday reported 112 new COVID-19 cases and two additional deaths.
County totals are now 4,784 cases and 115 deaths since the first case in the coronavirus pandemic was recorded March 6. The two deaths reported Thursday were a woman in her 50s from Tacoma and a woman in her 80s from South Hill. Both had underlying health conditions.
The Tacoma Pierce-County Health Department has reported 1,310 cases in the past 14 days. The 14-day case rate per 100,000 people is 145.2. The average cases per day over the last 14 days is 93.6. There were 2,130 active cases as of July 29.
“We see an increase of cases from all types of gatherings where people are not physical distancing and not wearing face coverings – social, business, civic, political, athletic, religious – any type of gathering,” the health department said Thursday.
Daily totals for cases and deaths can change as the county receives new information, 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 other local testing sites, go to www.tpchd.org/covidtest.
Thursday’s geographical case totals are listed below with previous day’s totals in parentheses:
▪ Bonney Lake: 113 (112)
▪ Central Pierce County: 318 (307)
▪ East Pierce County: 123 (no change)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 188 (187)
▪ Frederickson: 181 (178)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 121 (119)
▪ Graham: 145 (141)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 26 (no change)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 151 (147)
▪ Lakewood: 451 (438)
▪ Parkland: 279 (273)
▪ Puyallup: 305 (295)
▪ South Hill: 255 (247)
▪ South Pierce County: 96 (94)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 53 (no change)
▪ Spanaway: 190 (183)
▪ Tacoma: 1,533 (1,508)
▪ University Place: 209 (205)
▪ Unknown: 47 (48)
The University of Puget Sound in Tacoma announces no in-person instruction
Updated at 11 a.m.
The University of Puget Sound in Tacoma announced Wednesday that there would be no in-person instruction occurring on its campus for the upcoming academic semester. Remote classes are now set to begin Aug. 31.
In a statement posted on its website, the university said it has “made the difficult decision that we will not be able to resume in-person instruction in Fall 2020 as planned.”
In an email to students, the university cited rising case counts in Pierce County as the justification for the decision.
The statement did allow for students to access “limited campus housing with priority given to students who experience housing or food insecurity; are unable to effectively participate in remote learning from their homes, even with accommodations; or have a compelling academic or cocurricular reason to be on campus, such as students who need access to specialized facilities, equipment, or other resources for their academic work.”
The university also noted that “full-time Fall 2020 undergraduate tuition will be reduced to the amount charged in Fall 2019 (a reduction of $1,025) with a comparable reduction for graduate students.”
Private schools preparing to reopen for in-person education
Updated at 11 a.m.
As public school families throughout the area gear up for the increasing likelihood of distance learning this fall, many private school families are buying pencils and backpacks, preparing for a much different reality.
Despite recommendations from Pierce County’s top public health official to the contrary, private schools like the Charles Wright Academy, Annie Wright Schools and Bellarmine Prep have plans to return to some level of in-person instruction when the 2020-2021 school year begins, officials from the schools told The News Tribune this week.
According to an announcement from Tacoma’s Life Christian Academy recently reposted to the school’s Facebook page, the same is true.
The schools’ re-opening plans — while subject to change — set up a potential clash with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, which has recommended distance learning for all area schools this fall.
While stressing that they still have an ability to quickly move to distance-learning models if necessary, Charles Wright, Annie Wright and Bellarmine — which charge thousands of dollars each year in tuition — each expressed confidence that the plans they have developed for in-person learning are safe for students, staff and the community.
“I think, ultimately, we know that kids need to be back in school. We also know (COVID-19) isn’t going away anytime soon. It’s a big decision,” said Susan Rice, head of school at the Charles Wright Academy.
Last week, Pierce County’s public health director Dr. Anthony Chen issued recommendations warning against the physical reopening of schools under current circumstances.
Chen’s recommendations quickly led local public school districts to move toward distance learning models for the fall.
What Chen’s recommendations will mean for area private schools remains uncertain.
“I think a lot of schools were hoping to be able to be open for in-person instruction. I don’t know how many now are still planning to after they’ve heard my recommendation on this,” Chen told The News Tribune Wednesday. “My recommendation, as of last weekend, is that today it’s not currently safe to do so.”
Washington state reports 780 new cases on Wednesday
Updated at 9:20 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Health on Wednesday reported 780 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and seven deaths.
Meanwhile, total deaths in the U.S. passed the 150,000 mark Wednesday, roughly equivalent to the population of Bellevue.
Pierce County reported 94 new cases Wednesday and four new deaths. Pierce County had a total of 113 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Wednesday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 54,985 cases and 1,555 deaths, up from 54,205 cases and 1,548 deaths on Tuesday.
Forty-four people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on July 21, the most recent date with complete data. Late March had two days with 88 people admitted, the highest numbers to date during the pandemic.
Washington state has conducted 958,307 coronavirus tests. On July 21, the most recent date for which data is complete, 16,397 specimens were collected statewide, with 6% testing positive. The average positive test rate for the seven days prior was 5.4%.
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.
King County continues to have the highest numbers in Washington, with 14,856 cases and 648 deaths. Yakima County has the second-highest numbers, with 9,804 cases and 202 deaths.
All counties in Washington have cases. Garfield and Wahkiakum have case counts of less than 10.
On Wednesday, Washington had a 719 per 100,000 people case rate, up from 708 on Tuesday. The national rate is 1,324, up from 1,306 on Tuesday.
There had been more than 4.4 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 150,649 deaths from the virus in the United States as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 664,000 people have died from the disease worldwide.
Inslee extends high-risk employee proclamation
Gov. Jay Inslee extended his proclamation regarding workers’ rights and protections and protections for employees at higher risk of severe illness.
As a result of new CDC guidance regarding people at increased risk for severe illness, the extension will provide a clarifying guidance memo.
The guidance memo confirms that employees who are 65 and older will continue to be covered by the proclamation and clarifies processes for employers of individuals with certain medical conditions.
The proclamation will remain in effect through the duration of the state of emergency, or until otherwise rescinded or amended. Read the full proclamation here and the full guidance memo here.
Fred Meyer says local store had 3 recent COVID-19 cases; workers quarantined, recovered
Updated at 9:20 a.m.
Three COVID-19 cases have been reported at another local Fred Meyer amid widespread community transmission of the virus.
On Wednesday, Fred Meyer confirmed three cases were reported “weeks ago” among workers at its Tacoma store at 4505 S. 19th St. The store employs more than 320 workers, according to the retailer.
According to a statement from Fred Meyer media representative Jeffery Temple: “All had self-quarantined in alignment with the company’s Emergency Leave Guidelines, have fully recovered, and returned to work.”
Original information on the cases came from a news tip sent to The News Tribune on Wednesday.
According to Wednesday’s statement: “The store has had a professional third-party sanitation company provide deep cleaning multiple times.”
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department does not make public outbreaks at businesses unless the site has at least 10 cases and 30 or more employers.
On Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Chen, director of the health Department, told The News Tribune in a separate interview that the department’s reporting standard aims to avoid stigmatizing people or businesses.
“I think the important point is COVID-19 right now is widespread in the community,” Chen said.
He added that the department could consider more general reporting of business outbreaks, possibly by type of business.
“We don’t want people stigmatizing other people; we don’t want people avoiding businesses because they heard that the business had an outbreak,” Chen said Wednesday.
“Yesterday we were working with 22 new businesses, and it’s not always that high, but it’s not unusual for us to have like 20 businesses we’re working with,” he said.
Wednesday’s news follows other grocery store cases reported last week at a Tacoma Safeway and Sumner Fred Meyer, both also revealed by news tips later confirmed by the grocers’ corporate offices.
Commerce awards final 100 small business grants from initial Working Washington funds
Updated at 9:20 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Commerce announced the final group of grants from the first round of the Governor’s Working Washington Small Business emergency grant program to 100 very small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Businesses with up to 10 employees in 13 counties across the state received a total of more than $286,000 to cover costs including rent, utility bills, supplies, inventory and other operating expenses.
Agency officials focused on getting help into the hardest hit communities with these remaining funds from the initial program.
In total, over 1500 Washington businesses are expected to receive over $9.7 million, saving an estimated 5,500 jobs. Of these, initial data shows 360 are minority-owned, 749 are woman-owned, 109 are veteran-owned and 18 are Tribal-owned enterprises.
A broad range of industries are represented, including retail, hospitality, manufacturing, construction and other sectors including healthcare, veterinary, child care, barbershops, salons, business services and more.
A summary and map of grant recipients is available on Commerce’s website.
L&I extends relief again for employers struggling to pay workers’ comp premiums
Updated at 9:20 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries is again extending the deadline for employers who are finding it difficult to pay their workers’ compensation premiums during the coronavirus outbreak.
Under L&I’s extension, employers who are participating in the Employer Assistance Program have until Nov. 2 to pay their workers’ compensation premiums for the second quarter (April-May-June). Without the extension, the full payments would have been due on July 31. L&I previously extended the due date for first quarter premiums (January-February-March) through July 31.
Interested employers must still reapply for the second quarter payment relief, even if they received a payment extension for the first quarter.
Under state law, L&I is required to collect workers’ compensation premiums from employers to pay benefits for workers who are injured on the job or develop work-related illnesses.
Snohomish County Airport to resume passenger service
Updated at 9:20 a.m.
Commercial flights at a county airport in Washington state are set to resume Saturday with a limited schedule after workers spent more than two months replacing pavement at the airport.
Paine Field, also known as Snohomish County Airport, will offer one daily flight on United Airlines to its Denver hub and two daily flights on Alaska Airlines, one each to Las Vegas and Phoenix, The Daily Herald reported.
Before the coronavirus pandemic reduced air travel, the two airlines served 11 destinations with 24 departures and 24 arrivals every day.
“I’m hoping they add more flights,” said Brett Smith, the CEO of Propellor Airports, the company that operates Paine Field’s passenger terminal. He stopped taking his salary in March and said the airport no longer offers free parking for flight ticket holders.
The terminal as of March 4, a year after it opened, had served more than 1 million and logged more than 8,560 flights, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
Two months later, the number of flights was down to three a day, and the number of passengers had plummeted.
“I fully believe we will lose money for the foreseeable future, and we’re prepared to do that, but we’re going to be the cleanest and safest airport in the country,” Smith said.
Coronavirus precautions include a new airport cleaning schedule, temperature screenings, mask requirements, and plans to install a hospital-grade air filtration system.
The airport received federal approval to close in May for the previously planned ramp repair, which was originally scheduled to take four months while passenger air service continued, Smith said.
This story was originally published July 30, 2020 at 9:19 AM.
