COVID-19 updates: Daily cases continue increasing

The state Department of Health says there have been over 130,000 coronavirus cases in Washington state, and 2,519 people have died from the virus statewide. Check below for more updates.

Confirmed coronavirus cases across Washington state

Sunday, Nov. 15

8:18pm – On Sunday, Governor Inslee announced new restrictions as part of Washington state’s response to COVID-19. Shortly after, The Washington Food Industry Association’s incoming CEO released a statement. In part:

“Grocers do not make these regulations, but they are required to enforce them,” said Tammie Hetrick, the Washington Food Industry Association’s incoming CEO. “Like you, we are adjusting to new and ever-changing rules about how to shop safely during this unprecedented time. Stores are doing their best to innovate and offer safe, convenient services and maintain reasonable access.” Read more.

6:36pm – As of Sunday, Johns Hopkins University’s coronavirus tracker has reached 11 million after topping 10 million cases Nov. 9 — with the most recent million coming in just six days. It took 300 days for the U.S. to hit the 11 million mark since the first case was diagnosed in Washington state Jan. 20. Read more from AP.

3:12pm – Health officials say there have been 130,040 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Washington state, and 2,159 deaths since the outbreak began. The state doesn’t update the number of deaths on weekends. The DOH says there have been 2,778,095 tests conducted so far and 9,425 hospitalizations.

12:06pm – Gov. Inslee has announced new restrictions in an effort to curb the increasing cases of coronavirus in Washington state. His new order bans indoor gatherings and indoor service at restaurants and bars. Retail, including grocery stores, will be capped at 25% indoor occupancy. Read more.

8:43am – First graders were expected to return to schools in Monroe on Monday, but teachers voted Friday night against resuming in-person instruction, according to the Everett Herald. Teachers cited a spike in COVID-19 cases in Snohomish County.

The district told the Herald on Saturday that it continues to talk with the teachers union.

The first graders would start under a hybrid plan with two days in-person and three days remote learning.

Saturday, Nov. 14

5:59pm – New coronavirus restrictions could be coming sooner than expected. Governor Jay Inslee is scheduled to speak on Sunday at 11 a.m. Read more.

4:11pm – Health officials say there have been 127,731 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Washington state, and 2,159 deaths since the outbreak began. The state doesn’t update the number of deaths on weekends. The DOH says there have been 2,748,782 tests conducted so far.

12:38pm – Three Mid-Columbia farms are among those receiving the biggest fines in the state from the Washington state Department of Labor and Industries for serious violations of agriculture regulations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

More than 20 farms have been cited for inadequate COVID precautions, The Tri-City Herald reported.

7:54am – Joe Biden faces a decision unlike any other incoming president: whether to back a short-term national lockdown to finally arrest a raging pandemic. For now, it’s a question the president-elect would prefer to avoid. Read more.

Friday, Nov. 13

5:48pm – A new study from UW Medicine shows that patients with the coronavirus had an in-hospital death rate of 40%, compared to 19% for those with the flu. The higher death rate was independent of patients’ age, gender, existing health conditions, and the severity of illness while in the ICU.

The study is believed to be the first in the United States to directly compare clinical features, laboratory results, and health outcomes between patients with the two conditions.

4:35pm – Wait times of 4-5 hours are not uncommon at a coronavirus test site in Thurston County. Providence medical group reports that as many as 200 cars have been in line during peak hours at its Hawks Prairie location in Lacey. Administrators are working to add more employees and longer operating hours to keep up with demand.

The COVID-19 test site at Olympic College’s Poulsbo Campus is closed Friday due to high winds, which makes it hard on workers and can blow tents and equipment around. The drive-thru site at Skagit Valley was also shut down for the day.

3:19pm – There are 125,498 confirmed cases and 2,519 deaths statewide, as reported Washington State Department of Health, which is 2,142 new cases and 12 new deaths since Thursday’s data update.

The DOH says this is the highest daily case count since the pandemic began.

“Just two weeks ago, we announced 1,000 new cases in a day for the first time since mid-summer. And, each day this week we have reported over 1,000 new cases per day. This rapid escalation is extremely alarming,” reads a news release from the DOH. “The fall surge, which is getting worse every day, has erased the notable progress that Washingtonians made this summer.”

3:05pm – Snohomish County leaders announced the launch of a new Safe Start Kit program, which will distribute 2,500 boxes of PPE, including masks, thermometers, hand sanitizer, and gloves to small businesses throughout the county to help ensure they stay open, and to stop the spread of the virus during the busy holiday shopping season. Find more information and sign up here.

1:39pm – Oregon Governor Kate Brown imposed a statewide two-week “freeze” to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which may be a sign of what could come in Washington.

The “freeze” includes limiting gatherings to no more than six people; restaurants and bars will be limited to takeout only; and retail shops, grocery stores, and pharmacies must operate at 75% capacity. The order also closes all gyms and fitness centers.

Oregon, Washington, and California issued travel advisories Friday as well, asking anyone who travels from out of state or out of the country to self-quarantine for 14 days.

12:17pm – As hospitalizations rise in our state due to COVID-19, health officials are worried about hospitals reaching capacity. Read more. 

11:01am – The Seattle Sounders confirmed Friday that a member of the club’s First Team staff has tested positive for COVID-19. The rest of the team’s players and support staff have all since tested negative with no reported symptoms.

10:09am – Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday that he is enacting a travel advisory for Washington, advising a 14-day quarantine for travelers moving through the state. Read more.

8:56am – Do any of us trust anything? Maybe we spend too much time on Twitter, but KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross senses a lack of trust even in the real people he talks to, especially when it comes to the ongoing pandemic. Read more. 

7:10am – Fred Hutchinson researchers in Seattle have continued to trace and sequence the strain of coronavirus that swept through the White House in October.

According to researcher Trevor Bedford, “this sequencing has revealed additional viruses circulating in Virginia and collected between Aug. and Oct. that fall alongside the WH lineage, as well as three viruses from Michigan collected in Oct. that are closely related to sequences from the White House outbreak.”

In the days since the strain from October’s White House outbreak has begun being sequenced, a second cluster of infections emerged between Nov. 4 and Nov. 11, totaling 17 cases. Bedford and others remain uncertain whether that was a continuation of October’s outbreak, or a “second unrelated introduction event.”

That said, he left the door open for the White House to help “sequence further cases from the outbreak” to better understand how the virus has been spreading.

5:24am – The majority of Americans seem to be paying attention to calls from health and government officials to stay close to home for the holidays this year as COVID-19 cases rise across the United States. Read more. 

Thursday, Nov. 12

4:09pm – The state Department of Health is reporting a total of 123,356 confirmed cases and 2,507 deaths in Washington. This is an increase of 3,345 new cases since the last data update on Tuesday, and 25 new deaths. The DOH did not update the data dashboard Wednesday as its offices were closed for Veterans’ Day.

3:14pm – A national survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association shows 72% of Americans are unlikely to travel for Thanksgiving this year, and 69% are unlikely to travel for Christmas.

The hotel industry was one of the first impacted by the pandemic, and will be one of the last to recover. Hotels were seeing record levels of check-ins in 2019, but industry leaders say they don’t expect to see business and group travel reach numbers like that again until 2023.

1:49pm – All members, guests, and employees at Costco will be required to wear a face mask or face shield, effective Nov. 16. The store has had a face mask policy in effect since May, but members who could not wear a mask due to a medical condition were exempt. This is no longer the case. If a member has a condition that prevents them from wearing a mask, they must wear a face shield. Only children under the age of 2 are exempt.

“This updated policy may seem inconvenient to some, however we believe the added safety is worth any inconvenience,” the company said in a news release. “Our goal is to continue to provide a safe shopping environment for our members and guests, and to provide a safe work environment for our employees.”

12:22pm – Gov. Inslee will not be announcing new COVID restrictions as part of his Thursday evening address, according to a statement provided by his office.

The governor will reportedly make a plea to Washingtonians to avoid holiday gatherings and travel for Thanksgiving and Christmas, while emphasizing that his office will continue considering whether further restrictions are needed.

10:56am – Doctors at Auburn’s Multicare Medical Center are threatening to strike, claiming that Multicare hasn’t provided them with N95 masks, while forbidding them from bringing their own.

“Multicare’s assembly-line approach and emphasis on profits poses a serious public health threat, especially as COVID-19 cases spike throughout the region,” a union spokesperson said.

The hospital is currently coping with a COVID outbreak that has seen five employees contract the virus along with eight patients. One patient has also died from that outbreak.

9:33am – Gov. Jay Inslee and his wife Trudi will be delivering a public address Thursday at 5:30 p.m., to “give the latest updates on the state’s response to COVID-19.” He will not be taking questions from the media following the address.

8:49am – The United States once again set a record for daily COVID-19 cases Wednesday, totaling 142,755 new cases statewide.

7:15am – Moderna announced this week that it is now taking an interim look at data from its vaccine trial, and should have initial early results available sometime in the next few days, CNBC reports.

5:56am – The U.S. saw 709,000 initial unemployment claims last week, a decrease of 48,000 from the previous week, according to the latest numbers released by the U.S. Department of Labor.

5:33am – COVID cases are surging across the United States, and Texas became the first state to crest 1 million confirmed cases Wednesday.

That’s led to many states and regions reenacting restrictions, including New York, which recently set a 10 p.m. closing time for all restaurants, bars, and gyms statewide.

In total, daily cases are rising daily in 49 states, while daily deaths are up in 39. According to the Associated Press, the United States was seeing 730 COVID deaths per day a month ago, a number that now surpasses 970.

“We are in trouble,” Integris Health’s Dr. Julie Watson told AP. “If nothing is done soon to slow the rise in cases, our hospitals will be more overwhelmed than they already are and we won’t be able to be there for all of those who need it.”

Wednesday, Nov. 11

6:04pm – All offices at the Washington State Department of Health were closed Wednesday to honor veterans and their families, and will reopen Thursday. As such, it did not report new cases or deaths for the day.

5:33pm – The University of Puget Sound in Tacoma intends to resume classes in person for spring semester “if conditions allow,” but will also offer classes online or as a hybrid model.

The university’s website outlines what can be expected for spring semester, including increased safety measure, enhanced cleaning, reduced capacity in campus spaces, academic flexibility, and required COVID-19 tests twice a week for students, faculty, and staff on campus.

4:17pm – Seattle’s flight-themed Randy’s Restaurant is closing after nearly 40 years in business as the pandemic has caused jobs to leave that area and led to fewer customers. Owner and manager Richard Roadenizer tells KIRO 7 TV the diner will close Sunday. Roadenizer says he is thankful for all the loyal customers that have come in over the years and helped keep Randy’s open for as long as it has been.

2:51pm – St. Michael Medical Center in Bremerton is working to contain another coronavirus outbreak that involves four patients and two employees infected since early November.

This follows another infection earlier this fall connected to the medical center that involved 73 people. The state intervened to help manage that outbreak, and opened an investigation because of worries that administrators did not respond properly when the trouble started. Read more from the AP here.

2:07pm – Dr. Jeff Duchin with Public Health – Seattle & King County says hospitalizations in King County have gone up a dramatic 30% in the past week. He and others warn the number of daily deaths is expected to increase in the coming weeks because of these hospitalizations. Duchin also warns there are likely 4-5 times more cases occurring but for various reasons, those people are not being tested or traced.

1:20pm – A coronavirus outbreak at MultiCare Auburn Medical Center has left one patient dead and more than a dozen people infected. MultiCare says the outbreak began on the fourth floor of the hospital after a patient tested positive late last week. So far, nine patients and five staff members have tested positive. The workers are recovering at home and the infected patients are isolated in a COVID-19 unit.

At this time, no patient is being discharged or let onto the fourth floor of the hospital.

12:15pm – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated guidance Tuesday recommending community use of masks to prevent transmission of COVID-19. Read more. 

10:56am – Washington state health officials continue to express concerns over a sizable uptick in new COVID cases. In the midst of that, local hospitals are already feeling the strain according to Auburn ER doctor Stephen Anderson. Read more. 

9:02am – Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is emphasizing the importance of avoiding gatherings outside of households as COVID cases continue to rise.

“Our new motto: safer, smaller, and smarter,” she said Tuesday on Twitter. “We need to cut back on non-essential activities including social gatherings. Limit all group gatherings, especially indoors. Wear masks. Avoid crowded spaces. Keep 6 feet of physical distance. We can change the trajectory.”

7:44am – Thanksgiving is just a couple weeks away and the holiday season is fast approaching, but the COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of slowing. The question on a lot of people’s minds is: Should I travel for the holidays? Read more. 

5:10am – Why are deaths not increasing alongside rising COVID cases? Fred Hutchinson researcher Trevor Bedford explained that on Tuesday, noting why it is that deaths tend to lag behind spikes in cases.

“There is a lag between when a case is diagnosed and when the individual may succumb to their disease and there is a further lag between date of death and when the death is reported,” Bedford noted.

You can read his full explanation here.

Tuesday, Nov. 10

4:37pm – The Seattle Seahawks say there will be no fans in attendance for the home game on Nov. 19 versus Arizona. The team initially announced the first three home games of the season would be played without fans, and have been following public health advice to determine when and if that will change.

Through ongoing collaboration with local public health and government officials, we have decided that we will continue without fans in attendance at our home game on 11/19 vs. Arizona.

More Info: https://t.co/SJsqPD1j7Z pic.twitter.com/NQPoaimsXL

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 11, 2020

3:58pm – Health officials across Washington have expressed concern over an acceleration in cases that could lead to a surge in hospitalizations and eventually deaths if actions to prevent transmission are not taken now. Read more.

3:46pm – There are 120,011 confirmed cases and 2,482 deaths statewide, as reported by the Washington State Department of Health, which is an increase of 1,441 cases and 22 deaths since Monday.

3:18pm – Columbia virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen says only lockdowns can stop the spread of coronavirus now. On KIRO Radio’s Gee & Ursula Show, she explained that caseloads are so high that testing and contact tracing can’t keep up in many areas. Rasmussen says social distancing and masking lessen the risk of transmission, but isolation is more effective. Listen to the full interview online here.

2:11pm – The spread of COVID-19 is skyrocketing and Snohomish County officials say without everyone doing their part now and doubling down on safety measures, including avoiding indoor gatherings and always wearing a mask, the county will end up going backward into more restrictions.

County Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters says beyond case counts at a rate of 190 per 100,000 people in the county, it also appears to be the start of a hospital surge.

1:05pm – When applying for unemployment in Washington state, no one will have to provide proof that they are looking for a job until at least Dec. 7. The special coronavirus exemption to the job search rule ran out Monday, but has now been extended.

You can continue to answer “no” to the job search question on your weekly claim until the suspension is lifted. Read more from the Employment Security Department.

12:41pm – The Washington State University football team has one active case of COVID-19. It’s not clear when or how the infected player tested positive, nor who the player is or what position he plays. KIRO 7 TV reports that the place is eligible to come off COVID-19 protocol today.

11:34am – Kroger — the parent company of QFC and Fred Meyer — is cracking down on how many cleaning products you can buy, though the cap often varies by community. Just like when the pandemic started, customers are once again stockpiling toilet paper, disinfecting wipes, paper towels, and soap. Some Costco stores will again be imposing limits on popular products as well.

10:27am – State and county health officials are holding an “urgent” COVID-19 response briefing at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Accelerated COVID-19 transmission is occurring across Washington state, and “time is running out to reserve course and flatten the curve.” Read more.

8:22am – With growing concerns over a rise in COVID cases across the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidance for how families should manage the holiday season, advising against large gatherings.

“Unfortunately, the COVID-19 epidemic is worsening, and small household gatherings are an important contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases,” the CDC warns.

You can read the CDC’s full recommendations here.

7:04am – Online learning has been an up-and-down experience for both parents and teachers, a sentiment echoed when the Bellevue School District told parents it will not report first quarter grades for students in grades 6-12. Read more. 

5:36am – How much would a coordinated national COVID response help mitigate the spread of the virus? Quite a bit, says Dr. Ali Mokdad with UW’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

“A national approach would make a huge difference,” Dr. Mokdad told KIRO 7 TV. “We’ve seen it in other countries.”

This comes as president-elect Joe Biden is pushing forward on preparing for a robust federal effort once he takes office in January, having already appointed a task force of advisors composed of health experts.

Monday, Nov. 9

4:36pm – The state Department of Health is reporting a total of 118,570 confirmed cases and 2,460 deaths in Washington, which is 1,239 new cases since Sunday and 21 new deaths since the last report on Friday. The DOH does not update the death total on weekends.

3:05pm – Snohomish County is reporting 187.7 cases in 100,000 people for a 2-week rolling average. According to the state’s publish Decision Tree to help school districts make decisions about reopening, the high risk category starts at 75 or more cases per 100,000. the last spike was in late March, with 129 cases per 100,000. Check local cases counts here.

2:00pm – Health officials in Whatcom County say as more people venture outside the county, many are bringing COVID back with them. Erika Lautenbach, the county’s health department director, told KIRO Radio that almost one in three cases in Whatcom had a transmission or exposure event that occurred elsewhere in Washington state or out of state.

The county has seen good compliance with masking and other measures, but Lautenbach says when Whatcom residents travel to places with higher infection rates, or people from those places travel to Whatcom County, they are increasing the county’s overall risk.

11:59am – There are 363 students that have tested positive as part of the surge of cases among members of fraternities and sororities at the University of Washington that began on Sept. 10. The cases involve 23 of the 45 Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council chapters.

9:02am – What does Monday’s announcement from Pfizer regarding a potential COVID vaccine mean long-term? Columbia University virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen offered some context.

“We need any vaccine as soon as possible, but I’m pretty skeptical that this vaccine is going to be the ‘winner’ of the vaccine race,” she said on Twitter.

According to Dr. Rasmussen, Pfizer’s vaccine saw a “big reduction in symptoms” for 90% of its participants, “but it’s not clear that this vaccine is effective at preventing infection altogether.” Overall, she advises “cautious optimism,” and points out that “this news does not mean we are on the verge of ‘ending the pandemic.'”

“If the data supports this it’s a big milestone but not the final milestone,” she said. “There’s still a long road ahead. Manage your expectations.”

7:15am – Job one for the president-elect will be to crack down on the virus. If you’re wondering what kind of magic might actually do something, one researcher has a plan, and it’s not about the vaccine. Read more.

5:42am – Pfizer announced Monday morning that early data indicates that its COVID vaccine has proven effective in over 90% of its trial participants, with CEO Dr. Albert Bourla calling it “likely the most significant medical advance in the last 100 years.”

The company will petition the FDA for emergency-use authorization in the weeks to come, and hopes to have between 15-20 million doses manufactured by the end of 2020.

5:17am – Joe Biden announced Sunday that former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler will serve as co-chairs of a coronavirus working group to be rolled out Monday. Read more from AP.

You can read through last week’s COVID-19 updates here.

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