Coronavirus in Washington: 10,694 Cases Confirmed, 541 Deaths

SEATTLE, WA — The state of Washington is reporting a total of 10,694 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, and 541 deaths due to the disease in the latest batch of data released Tuesday night.

According to the state, a total of 122,854 Washingtonians have been tested, meaning about 8.7 percent of everyone who is tested comes back positive for the virus. As of Tuesday, the hardest hit counties remain Snohomish, King and Pierce counties. Tuesday King County reported its 300th death due to the virus, and Pierce county its 1,000th confirmed case of COVID-19.

Of the patients who test positive for the virus, 35 percent are 60 or older, and 10 percent are 80 or older. Since the start of the outbreak, doctors have said age is a crucial risk factor for the virus and that holds true for Washington: more than half of the Washingtonians killed by the virus are 80 or older, and 36 percent are between 60 and 79.

Tuesday's numbers do not represent a significant jump in coronavirus cases or deaths from the days before, which the state government is attributing to the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order closing all but the most essential businesses, and social distancing guidelines, which encourage residents to keep six feet or more space between themselves and others.

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Social distancing is working, but must continue

A new report suggests social distancing is working to slow the coronavirus in Washington, but researchers say it must remain in effect or risk a rebound in transmissions.

The latest report tracked transmissions of the virus from February 28 through March 30, and found that after social distancing policies were implemented, there were "significant reductions" in the number of coronavirus transmissions. Before social distancing began, each patient who caught the coronavirus spread it to almost three other people on average. Now, the report says, each patient spreads it to just one other person.

Western State makes changes

Western State Hospital is changing protocol to try and stop the spread of coronavirus through the facility, after more than a dozen patients and staff contracted the virus there.

Under the new protocol, patients will be screened for symptoms at least once a shift, social distancing will be encouraged, and staff has received new training on PPE use, hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection.

The move comes after a union representing workers at Western State Hospital heavily criticized the hospital's coronavirus response.

Key Arena construction continues, despite outbreak

Gov. Inslee's Stay Home, Stay Healthy order has cancelled many construction projects statewide, but the revamp of Key Arena is still ongoing. In fact, eight stadiums are still being built across North America, two of which are for NFL stadiums: Key Arena in Seattle and a second in New York.

Washington airports to receive $310 million

Airports have been hit hard as travelers stay home nationwide to wait out the pandemic. To help ease their suffering, the CARES act has allocated $10 billion dollars to airports across the country, including $310 million in coronavirus relief for airports in Washington.

Sea-Tac alone will receive over $192 million of the funding. The Port of Seattle says they've had to cancel 20 of their current construction projects for the airport as they wait out the virus.

Seattle expands grocery program for workers impacted by virus

Thanks to a 1 million dollar donation, the city of Seattle will be giving $800 dollar grocery vouchers to 1,000 more families struggling to stay afloat amid the coronavirus outbreak. The vouchers are being considered primarily for workers who have lost their jobs or had their hours significantly cut by the stay-at-home order, with a focus on helping residents who can't access other support programs.

Mayor Jenny Durkan says Seattle will continue to look for new ways to help residents in need, and is calling on congress in Washington D.C. to do more as well.

Tacoma Police teach social distancing through song

Members of the Tacoma Police Department have written and recorded a song and music video about correct social distancing. Chief of Police Don Ramsdell says they're trying to have fun, but also stressing the importance of social distancing. He says the department would rather not arrest anyone for violating Gov. Inslee's social distancing order, so they just want to make sure everyone knows to stay six feet apart from anyone else who is not in their household.

You can check out the music video for "Step Off Six" here.

Girl scouts cancel events until fall

The Girl Scouts of Western Washington have announced the cancellation of all in-person troop meetings, events and travel through at least August. Leaders say it was a hard decision to make, but necessary to ensure the safety of their kids.

To replace the cancelled events, the girl scouts are launching a new online program that will give girls patches for skills useful during a pandemic, like first-aid and finding shelter.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases by county (from the Washington Department of Health*)

Total confirmed cases: 10,694 (541 deaths)
King: 4,612 cases (303 deaths)
Snohomish: 1,916 cases (77 deaths)
Pierce: 963 cases (23 deaths)
Yakima: 614 cases (25 deaths)
Spokane: 270 cases (15 deaths)
Benton: 265 cases (29 deaths)
Clark: 229 cases (14 deaths)
Skagit: 198 cases (6 deaths)
Island: 157 cases (8 deaths)
Franklin: 138 cases (2 deaths)
Kitsap: 131 cases (1 death)
Grant: 121 cases (2 deaths)
Thurston: 82 cases (1 death)
Chelan: 59 cases (5 deaths)
Adams: 39 cases
Douglas: 29 cases
Jefferson: 28 cases
Cowlitz: 24 cases
Walla Walla: 23 cases
Mason: 19 cases
Lewis: 19 cases (2 deaths)
Okanogan: 15 cases
Klickitat: 14 cases (1 death)
Kittitas: 14 cases
San Juan: 13 cases
Clallam: 12 cases
Grays Harbor: 11 cases
Whitman: 11 cases
Stevens: 7 cases
Asotin: 6 cases
Skamania: 3 cases
Lincoln: 2 cases
Wahkiakum: 2 cases
Columbia: 1 case
Ferry: 1 case
Pacific: 1 case
Pend Oreille: 1 case

383 cases remain unassigned to any individual counties. The state is still determining how to sort the hundreds of cases with no definite origin.

*Note that some counties are reporting different individual case totals than the state is, one notable example being Pierce County, which reported 1,000 cases Tuesday when the State DOH reported 963.

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