70 Coronavirus Cases In Washington, Snohomish Declares Emergency

SEATTLE, WA — The number of illnesses linked to the new coronavirus in Washington jumped considerably Thursday, with 50 COVID-19 cases in King County, 18 in Snohomish County, and the first confirmed case outside the two counties, in Grant County.

Seattle and King County Public Health said a woman in her 90s, who was hospitalized at EvergreenHealth, died Tuesday, raising the statewide number of deaths associated with the illness to 11.

In light of the new cases, Snohomish County declared a state of emergency Thursday and recommended similar "social distancing" practices as officials in King County outlined Wednesday. During a press conference Thursday morning, Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin said the city intends to cancel large, city-sponsored events and encouraged others to cancel their planned gatherings.

Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates from health and government officials in Washington. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily.

Gov. Jay Inslee said he is not, at this point, exercising his authority to cancel public events, but acknowledged more drastic steps could become necessary as the situation evolves. State and county officials are encouraging community groups and organizations to voluntarily cancel planned gatherings and recommend residents avoid large groups in general — especially those with pre-existing health concerns.

In the Seattle area, several major companies are encouraging their employees to work from home through March, including Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Salesforce and Tableau. On Tuesday, Amazon announced one of its employees in the South Lake Union neighborhood had tested positive for COVID-19.

Testing Guidelines Relaxed, Washington Ramps Up Screening Efforts

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed the guidelines for who can get tested for the virus, allowing anyone with symptoms to get screened on their doctor's recommendation. The University of Washington began processing samples at a Seattle lab Tuesday and expects to have the capacity to run more than 1,000 tests per day by the end of the week.

The Department of Health said new equipment at its Shoreline lab should allow staff to swiftly expand testing operations there, and health officials have been in contact with several other commercial labs to scale capacity to meet public needs.

Testing kits are limited, and those experiencing mild symptoms are advised to stay home, rest and avoid contact with others. State officials say the priority for testing is people with underlying health symptoms or elderly patients.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler signed an emergency order Thursday requiring insurers to waive copays and deductibles for any patient requiring COVID-19 testing. Kreidler said insurers also must allow for a one-time, early refill for prescription drugs associated with the patient's care and suspend prior authorization requirements. The Seattle Times reports Kreidler's order covers only those with state-regulated health plans, not self-funded employer plans.

Inslee said the state would pay testing costs for any uninsured patients who require coronavirus screening.

Vice President Mike Pence, who is overseeing the U.S. coronavirus response, will arrive in Washington state Thursday afternoon to meet with Inslee, joined by the state's entire Congressional delegation.

Federal Teams Arrive At Kirkland Senior Facility

Teams from the CDC and a federal disaster management crew have arrived at the Life Care senior facility in Kirkland to assist staff and help coordinate ongoing efforts to contain the virus. According to public health data, a majority of the deaths associated with the illness in Washington have been among patients at the nursing home.

The Associated Press reports Life Care was fined last April over "infection-control deficiencies" after two outbreaks affected 17 patients and staff. The AP said federal inspectors would probe whether the nursing home followed proper protocols ahead of the latest outbreak.

During Thursday's press conference, Inslee said the state could take control of the facility, but it was still being determined if that would be necessary.

What is COVID-19? The Department of Health explains:

"COVID-19 is a new respiratory virus. There are no treatments for it. Most people will recover on their own, but some people can develop pneumonia and require medical care or hospitalization."

Symptoms of the new coronavirus are similar to flu or colds and may include:

• Runny nose
• Headache
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Fever
• A general feeling of being unwell

According to the Department of Health, people should take these steps to reduce their risk of getting and spreading any viral respiratory infections:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.
• Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill.

Monitor the latest information on COVID-19 in Washington and across the United States:

• Public Health Seattle-King County
• Snohomish County Health District
• Washington State Department of Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention