Washington state
Washington governor closes all schools in the state in response to coronavirus outbreak
All public and private schools in Washington will be closed from March 17 through April 24 to help slow the spread of novel coronavirus, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday.
By executive order, the governor also expanded the ban on public events and gatherings of 250 people or more to all counties and ordered higher education institutions to not hold face-to-face classes during the six-week period, although online classes could be held.
Inslee said from Tuesday to Friday the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus jumped from 162 to 568 and the number of deaths increased from 21 to 37. In that same period, the virus has spread from nine counties to 15.
“We have COVID-19 cases in the counties that represent fully 75 percent of the population of the state of Washington. It is unfortunate, but it is true that this virus is going to spread to other counties, and it is spreading very rapidly. We have concluded that a county-by-county approach to this epidemic is not sufficient.
“We need to get ahead of this wave, and we need to do it today. I believe consistency across the state has many advantages in our policies in this very dynamic situation that we are all managing,” the governor added.
Inslee’s Friday announcements came a day after he ordered all K-12 public and private schools in Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties to close from March 17 through April 24. It came an hour after President Trump declared a national emergency.
As of Friday, there were 568 cases in 15 counties, including 19 in Pierce County and one each in Whatcom and Thurston counties, according to the state Department of Health. (After the state posted its update on Friday, the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services confirmed two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to three).
The death toll has reached 37, according to the state Department of Health — with 32 in King County, four in Snohomish County, and one in Grant County.
By Friday, the United States had more than 1,700 confirmed cases with 40 deaths.
Earlier this week, Inslee used his emergency powers to ban public gatherings of 250 people or more in Pierce, King and Snohomish counties and placed restrictions on visits to nursing homes and assisted living facilities. On Friday, Inslee expanded those visiting restrictions to adult family homes.
The state Department of Corrections said Friday it confirmed that an employee at the Monroe Correctional Complex-Washington State Reformatory tested positive for COVID-19. The employee last worked on March 8, tested on March 10, and the results were confirmed on March 12. The employee will stay home away from others until the individual recovers, said state prison spokesperson Janelle Guthrie.
Also, the House of Representatives said Friday that House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, was informed on Thursday that a House staff member has reported they have potentially been exposed to COVID-19 and is choosing to self-quarantine. The person is not experiencing symptoms and is choosing to quarantine in an abundance of caution, an aide to Jinkins said.
The House said staff members can work from home if they want until at least April 24. Thursday was the final day of the legislative session.
At Friday’s press conference, Inslee urged labor and management to work together during the closure of public schools.
“This is not a vacation. Work may look different, but the expectation is that school employees will still be working,” he said.
Chris Reykdal, state Superintendent of Public Instruction, said districts are making progress in preparing to distribute food to students who are eligible for free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch. He said most districts will create “multiple check points” where parents can go to get food for their children.
“There are no food shortage issues. We are going to use bus drivers , for example, to deliver food. We are going to use paraeducators with some teachers to make sure our most vulnerable kids get supports. We are doing one-on-ones already with (high school) seniors to make sure the continuity of their learning continues. Our work is moving forward. It just looks differently,” Reykdal said.
The other emphasis will be on schools providing child care for children of health care workers and first responders, as long as they use social distancing, Reykdal said.
“Every parent cannot simply say, ‘I’m not going to work anymore. I’m going to be with my child.’ We want to provide an opportunity for those workers to be on the front lines, doing their job,” he said.
Inslee said the state can’t turn public schools into large child-care centers.
“The whole obligation and effort here is to reduce the transmission of disease. So we are really asking people to think of the schools as the child care center of last resort. And we want to make sure the priority of that is given for the families of health care workers, because we cannot simply have nurses leaving the hospitals when they become deluged with patients to do child care — and the same thing for first responders,” he said.
Inslee has urged school districts to use computers for online learning during the closures, if possible. Reykdal said it may take a week for school districts to set up distance learning.
“They are focused on equitable services. I think they can deliver on that, but they are going to take the time necessary to do that well,” Reykdal said.
The restrictions on face-to-face classes at public and private universities and colleges also will be in effect from March 17 through April 24, Inslee said. The directive does not affect the use of dormitories, food service, research and medical clinics.
“The restriction will essentially say there will not be in-person education happening on their campuses. I don’t think we actually should call them closures when it comes to colleges because they will be able to continue robust online learning in many cases.
“Labs and clinics may continue if social distancing -- six feet -- is imposed and a person is designated by the college or institution to ensure implementation of social distancing,” he said.
Comments