Editor’s note: This story shows updates about the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state from March 27-29, 2020.
Key facts:
- 195 coronavirus deaths among at least 4,310 overall cases in Washington.
- 65,462 individuals have been tested. 7.5% of those tests were positive.
- President Donald Trump signed a $2.2 trillion economic rescue package Friday that will send checks to most Americans.
- The Army will build a temporary field hospital at Seattle's CenturyLink Field.
- Track the statewide outbreak with this map of Washington counties.
Daily coronavirus cases March 23-27, according to the Washington State Department of Health:
MONDAY: 110 deaths among 2,221 overall cases (up to 200 overall cases from the previous weekend)
TUESDAY: 123 deaths among 2,469 overall cases
WEDNESDAY: 132 deaths among 2,580 overall cases
THURSDAY: 147 deaths among 3,207 overall cases
FRIDAY: 175 deaths among 3,700 overall cases
Sunday, March 29
4 p.m.
President Donald Trump is extending the voluntary national shutdown for a month as sickness and death from the coronavirus pandemic rise in the U.S.
The initial 15-day period of social distancing urged by the federal government expires Monday and Trump had expressed interest in relaxing the national guidelines at least in parts of the country less afflicted by the pandemic.
Instead, he decided to extend them through April 30, a tacit acknowledgment he'd been too optimistic. Many states and local governments have stiffer controls in place on mobility and gatherings.
12:23 p.m.
On CNN's State of the Union with Jake Tapper, Gov. Jay Inslee said he would not lift the state-wide stay-home order if President Donald Trump issued an order to allow areas that aren't heavily hit to return back to work.
Inslee said he is making "decisions based on science and reality."
"There are some very hard realities that we have to understand. Unless we continue a very vigorous social-distancing program in my state, this is gonna continue to spread like wildfire to every single corner of my state. That is an inevitable, scientific fact.
Inslee also said the Stay Home, Stay Healthy initiative will likely have to be extended.
11:40 a.m.
The old Issaquah Motel (1801 12th Ave NW, Issaquah, WA) is now officially open as a King County coronavirus quarantine site. The motel will be used as an isolation and recovery site.
7:30 a.m.
The U.S. government's foremost infection disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, says the U.S. will certainly have “millions of cases” of COVID-19 and more than 100,000 deaths.
As the U.S. tops the world in reported infections from the new coronavirus, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases predicts 100,000-200,000 deaths from the outbreak in the U.S.
Fauci was speaking to CNN’s “State of the Union” as the federal government is discussing rolling back guidelines on social distancing in areas that have not been hard-hit by the outbreak.
Saturday, March 28
10:25 p.m.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Domestic Travel Advisory for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut due to the extensive community transmission of coronavirus in those areas. Residents in those areas are urged to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for the next 14 days.
6:55 p.m.
An incarcerated patient at the Snohomish County Medical Center has tested positive for coronavirus, according to a release from the Department of Corrections.
The patient was transported to the hospital on March 3 from the Monroe Correctional Complex for medical needs that could not be done at the correctional facility. While at the hospital, the patient was originally tested for COVID-19 on March 15 and the results came back negative.
However, later the patient started exhibiting other symptoms and was tested again on March 25 and the results came back positive for COVID-19.
The man is currently in stable condition and remains in the Snohomish County Medical Center under isolation.
All staff members who may have had contact with the man were contacted and taking the necessary precautions.
3:51 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Health confirms 189 people have died from coronavirus statewide as of Saturday, March 28 out of at least 4,310 cases. King County remains the county with the highest number of deaths at 136, up 11 deaths from Friday. King County has 2,077 total cases.
A total of 54,896 (or 93%) of people tested have received negative results.
2:51 p.m.
A TSA spokesperson confirms a second TSA employee at Sea-Tac International Airport has tested positive for coronavirus. The employee worked at checkpoints 3 and 4 and was last at work on Tuesday, March 24. This is the second TSA employee at Sea-Tac Airport to be diagnosed with the virus this month.
Additionally, the Port of Seattle confirms 3 Sea-Tac Airport employees have tested positive for the virus. These employees were construction workers doing contracted work at Sea-Tac and had no contact with the public.
2:30 p.m.
Army officials say the field hospital to treat non-coronavirus patients will start being constructed Sunday at the CenturyLink Field Event Center. It should be up and running in the coming days.
The field hospital is meant to free up other local hospitals to treat coronavirus patients.
12:50 p.m.
The Skagit County Public Health Department confirms one resident and five staff members at Prestige Care and Rehabilitation in Burlington have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).
Public health officials and the Washington State Department of Health are working with the facility to test the remaining staff and residents. Officials are also notifying any people who may have had close contact with the patients.
Officials confirmed the facility has taken all appropriate actions to help prevent the spread of the virus to staff and other residents and the DOH found "no gaps" in the facility's practices.
12:30 p.m.
Staff and faculty at Shoreline Community College came together this week to collect much need personal protective equipment for medical workers.
With all the departments working together, they were able to collect surgical masks, gloves, and other supplies totaling over 30,000. The Shoreline Community College donated the supplies members of the local medical community.
11:25 a.m.
Governor Jay Inslee is providing more guidance for funeral homes, real estate agents, and Washinton state tribal leaders following his "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Gov. Inslee said Saturday funerals may proceed, as long as only immediate family members of the deceased are in attendance and they adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Real estate and mortgage lending activities are also allowed under his order, however, most activities have to be done remotely.
Gov. Inslee also clarified his proclamation does not apply on tribal lands and tribal leaders can set their own guidelines for what they consider essential activities on tribal lands. Read more about the guidelines here.
10 a.m.
An isolation and quarantine site for coronavirus patients will be set up next week at the Angel of the Winds Arena in downtown Everett, according to Snohomish County officials.
The facility will provide a place for people to stay temporarily who may not be able to recover in their own home or who are homeless in Snohomish County. People who are infected with the virus and people who have been exposed but are not yet ill will be able to isolate or quarantine themselves there.
The facility will have 24/7 security provided by the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office.
7:30 a.m.
The number of confirmed coronavirus infections worldwide topped 600,000 on Saturday as new cases stacked up quickly in Europe and the United States.
Friday, March 27
10:15 p.m.
Front line staff of the Space Needle will be laid off, after the closure of the landmark was extended until further notice to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The layoffs will also include administrative staff. The staff members who will be laid off will get more than four weeks of pay, sick time and extended healthcare coverage, a company spokesperson told KING 5 News.
The Space Needle's closure began March 12. It was originally slated to reopen on March 31.
7 p.m.
Stimulus check calculator: See how much you'll likely be getting from the $2.2 trillion deal.
6 p.m.
The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) extended the temporary closure of its three buildings — the Seattle Art Museum, the Asian Art Museum,and the PACCAR Pavilion at the Olympic Sculpture Park — until further notice. The museum closed its locations on March 12, though the outdoors Olympic Sculpture Park remains open. Museum officials reminded visitors to follow social distancing guidelines.
The museum launched a series on its website called Stay Home with SAM, which features activities and videos.
5:20 p.m.
Washington State Ferries will operate on a reduced service plan as part of the state’s coronavirus response and low ridership. The reductions will be in effect Sunday, March 29 through at least Saturday, April 25.
4:45 p.m.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will convert the CenturyLink Field Event Center into a temporary field hospital for non-coronavirus patients, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced.
"300 soldiers from the 627th Army Hospital from Fort Carson, Colorado have deployed to Seattle to staff the hospital, which is expected to create at least 150 hospital beds for non-COVID-19 cases," the mayor's office said Friday.
3:45 p.m.
The Washington Department of Health confirmed a total of 175 people have died from the coronavirus as of Friday, March 27 among 3,700 total cases. King County has the highest number of deaths at 125. There are 1,760 confirmed cases of coronavirus in King County alone.
In Washington, 49,015 people (93% of tests) have tested negative for the virus the state health department reported.
2 p.m.
President Donald Trump has signed an unprecedented $2.2 trillion economic rescue package into law, after swift and near-unanimous action by Congress this week. The package will support businesses, rush resources to overburdened health care providers and help struggling families during the deepening coronavirus epidemic.
As he signed the bill Friday, Trump declared it “will deliver urgently needed relief.” He thanked members of both parties for putting Americans “first.”
The House passed the legislation earlier Friday by voice vote.
The legislation will speed government payments of $1,200 to most Americans and increase jobless benefits for millions of people thrown out of work. Businesses big and small will get loans, grants and tax breaks.
1:30 p.m.
A Community Transit worker has reportedly died of coronavirus.
Kathleen Custer, the president of labor union ATU 1576, notified members Thursday of the death of Scott Ryan, 41.
"This is real," Custer wrote in a Facebook post. "All ATU locals across the country- keep pushing your agencies to ensure they are keeping everyone safe."
12:45 p.m.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is expected to sign an emergency order Friday to allow the city to fund child care for essential workers, including first responders, health care workers and grocery store employees.
Under the plan, the city would implement 75 emergency child care classrooms at five locations near hospitals and 22 other preschool sites. The classrooms would serve more than 700 kids.
The proposal taps more than $1 million per month from the city's Families, Education, Preschool and Promise funding.
Eligible children will begin to be identified Monday.