Where cases stand in Washington:
- 15 new coronavirus deaths reported as of Thursday in Washington among 700 new cases, according to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH).
- Total: 1,837 deaths among 69,389 overall cases in Washington state.
- Since the start of the pandemic, the DOH reports that 6,358 people have been hospitalized for COVID-19 in Washington state.
- The state reports of the total confirmed cases in the state, Washington's coronavirus death rate is 2.7%.
COVID-19 outbreak found at Thurston County Corrections Center
Officials with Thurston County Public Health are working to contain a COVID-19 outbreak at the Thurston County Corrections Center.
Health officials identified the first COVID-19 case as an inmate who was released from the corrections center on Aug. 17. That person is isolating themselves, according to a statement from the health department.
“Our public health strike team tested approximately 300 employees and inmates yesterday and immediately quarantined anyone who had close contact with the confirmed case,” said Director Schelli Slaughter. “Today, we received the first batch of results and can confirm 6 additional cases of COVID-19 in the facility. We expect to have more results in the coming days and plan to retest all inmates and employees next week.”
Health officials said there is not an increased risk to the general public as a result of this outbreak.
The corrections center will be monitored for the next 28 days, Slaughter said.
Some league bowling activities can return to Washington state counties in Phases 2 and 3, after Gov. Jay Inslee announced new coronavirus guidelines for activities.
Bowling alley owners had worried about going out of business after the state officials revised coronavirus guidelines earlier this year to strike down bowling in Phases 2 and 3.
Bowling alley owners and enthusiasts organized a statewide protest last month, urging state officials to spare them from complete closure.
The Employment Security Department (ESD) is applying for a federal program that would put an extra $300 per week in the hands of unemployed Washingtonians.
The ESD will apply for the Lost Wages Assistance program through the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) no later than Friday, according to a statement from the department Thursday.
If the application is approved, it will allow the ESD to provide an additional $300 per week for three weeks to people who are out of a job due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Inslee says state is having 'some success' on reducing COVID-19 cases
Though there are "many miles to go," Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday the state is having "some success" on reducing the number of COVID-19 cases in Washington state.
Many counties have plateaued in the number of cases, with a few seeing an increase. Walla Walla, Spokane, and Pierce counties have seen cases rise, he said.
"We have to be honest with ourselves to realize we are so far way from success that we have to be diligent," Inslee said.
One bright spot is Yakima County, where the number of cases spiked, but is now down "dramatically." Inslee said he believe this is because of an early "mask up" campaign.
Though state officials "continue to look at data on a daily basis to see what's possible," there are no current plans to alter the state's four-phase recovery plan.
The state continues to work on getting the number of cases to 25 per 100,000 people. It's currently around 110 per 100,000.
Airbnb is banning house parties worldwide as it tries to clean up its reputation and comply with coronavirus-related limits on gatherings.
The San Francisco-based home-sharing company said it will limit occupancy in its rental homes to 16 people. It may offer exceptions for boutique hotels or other event venues.
The number of laid-off workers seeking U.S. unemployment benefits rose to 1.1 million last week after two weeks of declines, evidence that many employers are still slashing jobs as the coronavirus bedevils the U.S. economy.
The latest figures suggest that more than five months after the viral outbreak erupted the economy is still weak, despite recent gains as some businesses reopen and some sectors like housing and manufacturing have rebounded. A rising number of people who have lost jobs say they consider their loss to be permanent.