MYNORTHWEST NEWS

COVID-19 updates: More than 93,000 cases confirmed statewide

Oct 5, 2020, 5:41 AM | Updated: Oct 11, 2020, 6:29 pm

Seattle COVID, mask mandate, King County, restaurant workers...

Restaurants continue to require patrons to wear masks, and likely will for the foreseeable future. (Seattle-King County Public Health, Facebook)

(Seattle-King County Public Health, Facebook)

The DOH says there have been over 93,000 coronavirus cases in Washington state, and 2,190 people have died from the virus. Check below for more updates.

Confirmed coronavirus cases across Washington state

Sunday, Oct. 11

6:27pm – The state Department of Health reports it will not provide any updated data on Sunday due to a processing issue. DOH posted on the website: “We hope to resolve these issues and return to regular reporting on Monday, 10/12/20.”

2:32pm – President Donald Trump on Sunday declared he was healthy enough to return to the campaign trail, a day after the White House doctor said he was no longer at risk of transmitting the coronavirus but did not say explicitly whether Trump had tested negative for it. Read more from the AP.

“I’m immune,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News. “The president is in very good shape to fight the battles.”

In a memo released Saturday night by the White House, Navy Cmdr. Dr. Sean Conley said Trump met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for safely discontinuing isolation and that by “currently recognized standards” he was no longer considered a transmission risk. The memo did not declare Trump had tested negative for the virus.

8:50am – You may not be able to walk through a haunted house this year, but you can drive through one. Stalker Farms in Snohomish County has changed its scare tactics to follow new COVID-19 safety rules, which includes clowns, chainsaws, and gameshow trivia in a 40-minute drive-thru experience.

Saturday, Oct. 10

6:35pm – Trump’s doctor says the president is no longer at risk of transmitting the coronavirus. Read more from the AP.

3:32pm – There are now 93,035 confirmed cases in Washington, as reported by the state Department of Health. The DOH does not update the number of deaths on weekends, so that remains at 2,190. More than two million tests have been conducted statewide.

12:55pm – Living through a global pandemic can prompt a whole new set of stresses. Today is World Mental Health Day, to help recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health, and that there’s no shame in asking for help. Washington state has a help line called Washington Listens at 833-681-0211. Call for support services.

10:58am – Pierce County’s health officer says the county has moved into the high-risk level for coronavirus cases. Dr. Anthony Chen is advising schools not to bring any more kids back to campus, and says they should prepare to return to distance learning for most students.

7:27am – After losing most of its riders in the beginning of the pandemic, Washington State Ferries ridership is rising again. As a result, more boats are being added to some runs and the state is hiring more staff. The Mukilteo ferry route, for example, was down to one vessel on the weekend but is now back to two. For the first time since March, two boats are sailing between Seattle and Bainbridge Island.

Friday, Oct. 9

5:11pm – With COVID-19 cases beginning to rise across Washington, Skagit County health officials have mounting concerns over a growing outbreak of their own. Read more

3:24pm – Health officials say there have been 92,560 people in Washington state who have been infected with coronavirus. Of those, 2,190 people have died. The state says there have been 2,037, 946 tests conducted so far.

2:01pm – This week, Gov. Jay Inslee extended protections for renters in Washington state through the end of the year with an eviction moratorium.

Many landlord groups backed the move when the initial ban was ordered in March as the pandemic started spreading, leading to shutdowns and widespread layoffs. Though that support still exists, there are ongoing concerns about the specifics in Inslee’s proclamation, the only eviction moratorium among West Coast states that doesn’t require renters to prove they actually need the assistance in order to get the blanket protection. Read more

12:18pm – Bremerton’s Roxy Theater reopens Friday following a loosening of Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-19 restrictions earlier this week. The theater can have a 25% capacity, which means there can be about 125 people in the 500-seat theater. The first showing will be Friday afternoon.

In more theater news, AMC Theatres plans to reopen 14 theaters in Washington one week from today. After that test, AMC then plans to reopen more than 500 theaters. There will be safety changes in place, including limited capacity and increased cleaning. Recently, Regal said it’s temporarily closing all of its U.S. locations due to a lack of blockbuster movie releases and fewer moviegoers.

10:32am – Researchers at UW Medicine and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center are recruiting people to test the same experimental antibody drug REGN-COV2 made by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals that the president received for COVID-19. Read more.

8:56am – The coronavirus outbreak on the UW’s Greek Row continues to grow as 218 fraternity and sorority members have tested positive for COVID-19, drawing the attention Thurday of state health officials and the governor.

“We are so concerned about the fraternities and sororities’ behavior, frankly, that is exposing us all to great risk,” Inslee said. “And it has to change. It just has to change.” Read more.

7:11am – Fines are still going out from the state to businesses that break COVID rules, with the Yakima Speedway as the latest after allowing unmasked fans in the stands at a racing event last weekend.

The biggest fine — $7,500 — went to the Mail Express Business Center in Enumclaw, whose owner told investigators she was not enforcing mask use because she did not want to be an unpaid agent of the government. The state Department of Labor and Industries says it has looked into more than 4,000 complaints and fined 11 businesses so far.

Thursday, Oct. 8

3:53pm – Health officials say there have been 91,918 cases of coronavirus in Washington state, and 2,183 deaths. The state says there have been over 2 million tests conducted so far, and 7,733 hospitalizations.

3:32pm – Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday that he will be extending a moratorium on rental evictions through the end of 2020, now expiring on Dec. 31. The moratorium was initially set to end this week.

Inslee also announced that the state will soon be distributing $15 million in federal grants to aid businesses struggling during the ongoing COVID crisis.

2:52pm – UW Medicine and Fred Hutchinson researchers in Seattle announced Thursday that they will be running tests on antibodies created by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to prevent COVID-19.

This comes as part of a larger effort to recruit 2,000 people for trials across 100 states in the U.S.

1:24pm – How is remote learning working out for kids who need more support? Eric and Deanna Fisher are parents who have four children learning remotely right now in the Northshore School District, three of whom are in special ed. They joined KIRO Radio’s Gee and Ursula Show to share their frustrations with this school year and what they want to change. Read more.

11:41am – The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits dipped last week to a still-high 840,000, evidence that layoffs remain elevated seven months into the pandemic recession. Read more from AP. 

In Washington state, the number of weekly initial unemployment claims dropped to 15,495 for the week of 9/27 t0 10/3. That’s compared to 17,734 for the week prior and 6,031 for the same week in 2019.

10:51am – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is making “steady progress” with plans around an expected vaccine for COVID-19. The state is committed to ensure that any vaccine has adequate clinical data and independent review before they are licensed.

“DOH is committed to science and the need to critically evaluate these new vaccines for their safety and efficacy in an unbiased way before their use,” according to a DOH news release. “We will be watching the FDA approval process closely to make sure it is thorough and transparent.”

Washington state is using the “Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine” consensus study report released by the National Academy of Medicine to inform the planning and thinking for how vaccines will be prioritized with a limited initial supply. The DOH hopes to open electronic provider enrollment in November, and says the state vaccine plan will be ready to turn in to the CDC by the Oct. 16 due date.

9:17am – A shipment of rapid COVID antigen tests from the federal government is supposed to be arriving in Washington state soon, but the state isn’t sure exactly when.

Reed Schuler from the Governor’s Office told KIRO Radio they’ve learned to take federal shipping estimates “with a healthy dose of salt.”

The first shipment is supposed to include 150,000 test kits out of two million ordered by the state. The kits will be sent to community health centers, tribal clinics, and critical access hospitals to increase testing access. The rapid antigen tests are typically less accurate than normal tests, but they are easy to use and provide results in about 15 minutes.

7:39am – There have been 212 positive COVID-19 cases among fraternity and sorority students at the University of Washington as of the last report. That marks more than one-third of the total number of cases connected to the university, including staff and faculty members.

5:45am – Below normal public school enrollment is being reported statewide because of the pandemic. Preliminary numbers show kindergarten enrollment with the greatest drop, down nearly 14% from this time last year. This year’s total September enrollment in public K-12 schools is down nearly 3%.

Washington’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal says some families are holding their little ones back a year, hoping for a full return to in-person classes next fall. He added that this is not a trend only seen in Washington state.

“We are not alone in this,” Reykdal said. “As our nation continues to fight the spread of COVID-19, states across the country are seeing changes in K-12 enrollment as families make decisions about the safest and most effective learning environments for their children.”

State payment adjustments based on actual student numbers begin in January, meaning most school districts will likely be getting less money than expected. Read more from the OSPI blog.

Wednesday, Oct. 7

4:55pm – Washington’s major population centers continue to see increases in COVID-19 cases, detailed in a Wednesday update from the state Department of Health. Read more

3:16pm – Washington state is now reporting 91,208 total COVID-19 cases, along with 2,177 deaths. That marks a single-day increase of 545 cases and 12 deaths. The state has now reportedly tested 1,978,477 people over the course of the pandemic.

2:12pm – With Regal Cinemas closing down all 536 of its U.S. theaters over challenges brought on by the ongoing pandemic, 2020 has largely been a lost year for movies. Read more. 

12:59pm – To document how the pandemic has changed the city of Seattle, researchers are driving around the city collecting longitudinal street view surveys with a 360 degree camera. Read more

11:13am – The Salish Lodge and Spa says it is ready to reopen with “limited operations” after a COVID-19 outbreak. Operations will be adjusted to ensure physical distance guidelines and health precautious across the spa. Limited hours, services, and facility amenities will be offered during this reopening phase and advanced reservations are required.

Public Health — Seattle & King County had identified at least 25 cases connected to the outbreak, including 23 staff and two guests.

8:54am – Tacoma nurse Tammy Edwards and her husband Brian both have had COVID-19, and even after recovering from the illness, they’re still suffering through symptoms. Suffice it to say, when Edwards saw President Trump tell the nation to not let the virus “dominate your life,” she was upset. Read more.

5:48am – As of Oct. 6, 177 students in 14 fraternities and sororities at the UW have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the university to take action. Leaders at the UW and Public Health — Seattle & King County issued a stern letter to the Greek system, which says in part that parties, gatherings, or flagrant disregard for prevention measures can trigger a disciplinary investigation. Outcomes of the process may range from reprimand to suspension or dismissal from the university.

The letter also made it clear that no student will be disciplined for being diagnosed with COVID nor for quarantining due to possible exposure. Read the full letter here.

Tuesday, Oct. 6

5:10pm – Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday that he would be relaxing a handful of restrictions on businesses and activities statewide. Read more.

3:48pm – Washington state is now reporting 90,663 total COVID-19 cases, along with 2,165 deaths. That marks a single-day increase of 387 cases and seven deaths. The state says it has conducted 1,961,067 tests so far.

2:49pm – Gov. Jay Inslee delivered a press conference Tuesday alongside Fred Hutchinson’s Dr. Joshua Schiffer, stressing the importance of wearing masks during the colder fall and winter months, especially as Washington continues to deal with the ongoing pandemic.

“As the weather changes, as we go back indoors and we resume our indoor activities, we really have to increase our commitment to masks,” Inslee said.

The governor and Schiffer went on to address how masks have become widely politicized, especially in the wake of President Trump removing his mask on the balcony of the White House after getting discharged from Walter Reed Medical Center.

“It’s extremely disappointing not to model good behavior when you have an opportunity to do so, and the ripple effect is lost lives,” said Dr. Schiffer.

“Wearing a mask is not a sign of weakness — it is fundamentally a sign of strength,” Inslee added. “It means you care about your family, your colleagues, your neighbors, and you have the strength to demonstrate that.”

Inslee closed by describing wearing a mask as one of the “little things” Washingtonians need to do in order to get COVID-19 cases down to a level that allows further reopening.

2:16pm – There’s a big question on every parent’s mind: Is it safe to send my kid back to school? Even if schools conduct all the proper protocols, have protective equipment for everybody, and space for social isolation, we still have to wonder how safe children will be from COVID-19 if they return to the classroom. Read more

1:00pm – President Trump abandoned COVID-19 relief talks on Tuesday, saying they won’t resume until after the election. The move came as the chairman of the Federal Reserve said that further fiscal intervention is needed to prevent the economy from spiraling downward.

Trump tweeted that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was “not negotiating in good faith” and said he’s asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to direct all his focus before the election into confirming his U.S. Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett. Read more from AP.

12:38pm – The Food and Drug Administration laid out updated safety standards Tuesday for makers of COVID-19 vaccines after the White House blocked their formal release, according to the Associated Press. However, shortly after the AP publication, the Wall Street Journal reported that the White House has agreed to the guidelines.

In briefing documents posted on its website, the FDA said vaccine makers should follow trial participants for at least two months to rule out safety issues before seeking emergency approval. That requirement would almost certainly preclude the introduction of a vaccine before Nov. 3. President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted a vaccine could be authorized before Election Day. Read more from AP.

9:55am – Seattle Parks announced on Monday that park playgrounds are reopening on Tuesday. It’s asking parents to make sure kids over the age of 2 are wearing masks and that they wash their hands before and after playing on the equipment. Parks is also requesting no more than five kids at a time on each piece of play equipment.

Check here for more guidelines and ideas, including visiting during off times for short increments.

8:18am – Residents of south King County will have two more options for free COVID-19 testing as new sites are coming to Tukwila and Federal Way. These sites will be open to anyone, regardless of insurance.

The Tukwila testing site opens Oct. 6 at The Church by the Side of the Road. In Federal Way, the testing site will open a week later on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center. Both sites will be open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Visit Public Health — Seattle & King County’s testing page online here for more information about getting tested, including a list of free sites.

6:05am – Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has opened its COVID-19 Clinical Research Center (CCRC), funded by philanthropic donations and public and private partnerships. The CCRC is one of the first facilities in the nation designed to test novel interventions to treat and prevent COVID-19.

The CCRC will open with two studies underway, one of which is a Phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of remdesivir treatment. Read more about the CCRC here.

Monday, Oct. 5

5:42pm – Washington state leaders spoke out Monday, following a tweet from President Trump telling the nation not to fear COVID as he recovers from the virus following a weekend stay at Walter Reed Medical Center. Read more.

4:05pm – Health officials say there have been 90,276 cases of coronavirus in Washington state, and there have been 2158 deaths. The state says there have been 1,951,407 tests conducted so far.

2:51pm – As President Trump continues to receive treatment for COVID-19, the public has at least some sense of how things are progressing. But even so, it’s still proven difficult to fully assess the severity of his illness, especially given the medications he’s been taking. Read more

1:07pm – The Centers for Disease Control says COVID-19 can sometimes spread by airborne transmission. The CDC published new guidelines on Monday explaining its understanding of how the virus can spread. It says the virus can be found in particles that can linger in the air for minutes to hours.

The CDC said that in some cases, infected individuals have spread the virus to people who were more than 6 feet apart. Those transmissions were likely to happen in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation. Sometimes the infected person was breathing heavily during activities like exercising or singing. Read more from the CDC.

Additionally, COVID-19 can be found on surfaces and it’s possible that a person could be infected if they touch the area and then their eyes, nose, or mouth. But the CDC says it’s  “not thought to be a common way that COVID-19 spreads.”

11:49am – Play areas will reopen at Seattle parks on Tuesday, Oct. 6. As part of the safety guidance, there can be no more than five kids on the play equipment at a time and all children over the age of 2 must wear a mask. Find the full list of guidelines from Seattle Parks and Recreation online here.

10:08am – Something new has popped up at SeaTac Airport: a vending machine for face masks. The Puget Sound Business Journal reports that the machine, called “Plane Masks,” offers hands-free checkout as shoppers can use their phones to scan a QR code and pay.

The machines are meant to be an alternative for anyone wanting to avoid crowds or touching anything at airport stores. Face coverings come in small, medium, and large, as well as kid sizes.

9:12am – As of Oct. 5 at 8 a.m., 163 students at the University of Washington in 12 fraternities and sororities have tested positive for COVID-19 in an outbreak that has continued to grow since students moved back in mid- to late-September. Students living in the residence halls have not seen the same impact as out of the 1,600 dorm residents tested this past week, only five were COVID positive.

View the UW’s case dashboard online here.

8:05am – Parking rates in some areas of Seattle will go up starting Monday for neighborhoods seeing more traffic in order to encourage turnover and help businesses attract customers. First Hill, the International District, Denny Triangle, and Belltown will be $1 per hour at street meters during peak hours. Rates will remain at $0.50 per hour at other times and in most other areas of the city.

6:41am – Both of Washington’s U.S. Senators have tested negative for COVID-19. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray took a test as a precaution over the weekend.

In a tweet, Murray urged everyone to keep taking safety precautions to limit the spread of the virus.

5:36am – The World Health Organization says its “best estimates” indicate that roughly 1 in 10 people worldwide may have been infected with COVID-19, which Dr. Michael Ryan says ultimately means that the vast majority of people are still at risk.

The estimate would amount to more than 760 million people out of a current world population of about 7.6 billion. This is higher than the number of confirmed cases as tallied by the WHO and Johns Hopkins University at 35 million worldwide. Read more from the Associated Press here.

Read through last week’s COVID-19 updates here.

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