Editor’s note: This story shows updates about the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state from June 7-9, 2020.
Key facts:
- Yakima County has nearly 5,000 COVID-19 cases.
- 15 new deaths among 313 new cases reported Monday in Washington.
- TOTAL: 1,176 deaths among 24,354 overall cases in Washington state.
- 415,054 people in Washington have taken a test for coronavirus and 5.9% of those tests have been positive, according to the state Department of Health.
Tuesday, June 9:
Gov. Inslee extends protections for high-risk workers
Gov. Jay Inslee is extending a proclamation that gives high-risk workers the right "to protect themselves from COVID-19 without jeopardizing their employment status or loss of income."
Inslee initially announced the workplace protections on April 13. The proclamation has now been extended through August 1.
The proclamation provides older workers and those with underlying health conditions a series of rights and protections, including:
- The choice of an alternative work assignment, including telework, alternative or remote work locations if feasible, and social distancing measures.
- The ability to use any accrued leave or unemployment benefits if an alternative work assignment is not feasible and the employee is unable to safely work. Employers must maintain health insurance benefits while high risk employees are off the job.
- Employers are prohibited from permanently replacing high-risk employees.
High-risk individuals are defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and include:
- 65 years of age or older
- People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well-controlled.
Great Wolf Lodge plans to reopen June 19
The popular family resort Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington announced plans to reopen on Friday, June 19 with extra safety precautions in place.
The resort will reduce occupancy to 50% or less to allow families to maintain 6-feet of safe social distance from other families. Plexiglass barriers will be installed in some areas and employees will undergo a wellness check before starting work.
The company shared the following statement about their water features:
"The CDC continues to state “there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools, hot tubs, or water playgrounds” and that “proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection of pools, hot tubs and water playgrounds should inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.” Great Wolf Lodge’s filtration and chemistry system used at the waterparks is considered industry leading."
New Washington cases
- 15 new deaths among 313 new cases reported Monday in Washington.
- TOTAL: 1,176 deaths among 24,354 overall cases in Washington state.
- 415,054 people in Washington have taken a test for coronavirus and 5.9% of those tests have been positive, according to the state Department of Health.
Yakima County has nearly 5,000 COVID-19 cases
The coronavirus pandemic continues to rage in Yakima County, with the total number of cases closing in on 5,000.
The Yakima Health District reported 215 more infections Monday, bringing the total of confirmed cases to 4,929.
The Yakima Herald-Republic reported deaths from COVID-19 remained at 96.
Yakima Health District spokeswoman Lilian Bravo says the county is a hot spot for COVID-19. She says it’s too early to tell what kind of impact recent public gatherings in support of Black Lives Matter may have on the spread of the virus because it can take up to 14 days before symptoms become apparent.
via Associated Press
WHO backtracks comments on asymptomatic spread of coronavirus
Numerous experts worldwide and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have warned that people without coronavirus symptoms could still transmit the virus, which explains why the pandemic has been so hard to contain.
So, it was a surprise when Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization’s technical lead on COVID-19, seemed to suggest at a press briefing on Monday that the likelihood of contracting the coronavirus from asymptomatic individuals, or those with no clinical symptoms, appeared to be "very rare."
Van Kerkhove clarified on Tuesday during a WHO live stream that there is still a lot they don't know about the virus, saying her original comments tried to "articulate what we know."
She added that it was a "misunderstanding" to state that asymptomatic transmission is "rare."
"What I was referring to yesterday in the press conference was a subset of substudies. I also referred to some data that isn’t published," she said. "These are estimates, and there’s a big range from the different models. Some estimates of around 40 percent of transmission may be due to asymptomatic, but those are from models and so I didn’t include that in my answer yesterday."
Alaska Airlines adds new COVID-19 safety measures
Alaska Airlines is making a few changes to help keep people safe when traveling during the novel coronavirus pandemic. The airline said it worked with University of Washington’s Medical Center’s infectious disease experts to come up with the new standards.
Starting June 30, passengers will be required to submit a pre-travel wellness agreement at check-in. The form is meant to verify that passengers have not exhibited any COVID-19 symptoms in the past 72 hours.
Middle seats on flights will also be blocked through July 31 to help ensure social distancing. Passengers 12 and older are also required to wear a face mask on flights.
The airline said planes will be equipped with two hospital-grade HEPA filters that remove 99.95% of airborne contaminants like COVID-19.
Personal hand sanitizing wipes will also be available onboard starting in July, according to the airline.
Canada eases coronavirus border restriction, allows immediate family in
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government will allow immediate family members of citizens or permanent residents to come to Canada.
It's a slight easing of border restrictions enacted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Trudeau said anyone entering the country will be required to quarantine for 14 days or face serious penalties.
Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said the limited exception will apply to spouses, common-law partners, dependent children, parents, and legal guardians. He said they will have to say in Canada for at least 15 days.
Washington fruit processor reopening after virus outbreak infected 132
Firestone Pacific Foods in Vancouver, Washington, has started reopening after a coronavirus outbreak infected 132 people and forced the fruit processor to shut down.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the company restarted operations last week after the Clark County public health department approved it.
A Firestone spokesperson said the company plans to ramp up production as more employees return from mandatory 14-day quarantine periods and receive training on new safety procedures.
Clark County’s public health department has linked 132 coronavirus cases to the company since May 23, making it the largest known workplace outbreak in the Portland area.
Military funeral honors paused by pandemic resuming at most VA cemeteries
Committal services and military funeral honors will resume at all but two U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs national cemeteries starting Tuesday. The services have been deferred since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Military funeral honors are provided by the Department of Defense. It generally includes folding and presenting the United States burial flag to the family of the fallen, and the playing of Taps.
VA national cemeteries will contact families who were unable to hold a committal service due to the COVID-19 outbreak to arrange memorial services for their loved ones beginning in July.
Volunteers reopening some federal offices closed in pandemic
More of the first volunteers are starting to trickle back to their desks at federal agencies in the coronavirus lockdown.
In the third month after Americans began sheltering in place and worksites began closing, the Energy Department says the first voluntary returns of a small number of headquarters workers began Monday.
The State Department and Agriculture Department also have some workers returning to job places this month. But a surge in cases in Boston and Dallas has led the Environmental Protection Agency to put on hold its timeline for getting workers back to regional offices there.
Monday, June 8
New Washington coronavirus cases and deaths
- Two new deaths among 312 new cases reported Monday in Washington.
- TOTAL: 1,161 deaths among 24,041 overall cases in Washington state.
- 410,290 people in Washington have taken a test for coronavirus and 5.9% of those tests have been positive, according to the state Department of Health.
New Emerald Queen Casino opens with precautions
The new Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma opened Monday morning with extra precautions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Guests will have their temperatures taken before going in and will be required to wear masks.
The $400-million casino covers more than 310,000 square feet and includes five restaurants, a buffet, coffee shop, and sports bar.
Casinos throughout western Washington have begun reopening along with other businesses throughout the state. The Angel of the Winds Casino in Arlington reopened May 13, well ahead of the approval for Snohomish County to move to Phase 2 of the state's reopening plan.
New face-covering requirements start today
All workers from grocery stores to small businesses will be required to wear face coverings beginning Monday, June 8, in Washington state.
There are some exceptions to the requirement like working in a job where people have no contact with others, if you are deaf and rely on facial markers and expressions, or if the individual has a medical condition makes wearing a facial covering inappropriate.
Employers will be required to provide all the necessary materials for employees.
Washingtonians are also strongly encouraged to wear facial coverings when out in public to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Customers must follow retailers posted signage requiring facial coverings.
Sunday, June 7
Officials urge protesters to get tested for coronavirus
As New York City prepared to reopen after a more than two-month coronavirus shutdown, officials on Sunday lifted a curfew that was put in place amid protests of police brutality and racial injustice. But they also urged that demonstrators be tested for COVID-19.
"Get a test. Get a test," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged people who have been participating in rallies and marches in memory of George Floyd.
The call is similar to what officials in Seattle, San Francisco and Atlanta have made following massive demonstrations, with free testing set up for protesters who may have been exposed to the virus.
If you're out protesting, officials urge you to wear a mask and social distance.
Free COVID-19 tests are being offered around the Seattle area.
New Washington coronavirus cases
- Six new deaths among 287 new cases reported Sunday in Washington.
- TOTAL: 1,159 deaths among 23,729 overall cases in Washington state.
- 405,056 people in Washington have taken a test for coronavirus and 5.9% of those tests have been positive, according to the state Department of Health.
14 counties moving on to next phase of reopening
Fourteen counties were approved Friday to move onto the next phase of reopening in the state's "Safe Start" plan.
There are now five counties in Phase 1, one county in modified Phase 1, 26 counties in Phase 2, and seven counties in Phase 3.
Businesses operating in Phase 3 must create a safety plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep it on their premises.
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