More Than 12,000 Coronavirus Cases In Washington; 652 Dead

SEATTLE, WA — The state department of health reported 295 new coronavirus cases and 18 additional deaths Monday afternoon, bringing the state's case total above 12,000 and its death toll above 650.

Across the nation, more than 41,500 people have died from complications linked to the virus.

Related: Interactive Map: Latest U.S. Coronavirus Cases

Pierce County confirms COVID-19 outbreak at senior home

At least 27 of the 41 residents at Gibraltar Senior Living have tested positive for the new coronavirus, along with seven staff members, the health department announced Monday.

Officials said an employee was diagnosed with COVID-19 on April 9, and the first resident tested positive April 12. All residents were tested by Thursday, April 16. The health department said no deaths at the facility have been reported.

On Monday, health officials reported 25 new cases and five additional deaths linked to the disease across Pierce County.

King County reports 14 new deaths Monday; 112 confirmed cases among the homeless population

Public Health - Seattle & King County confirmed 121 new coronavirus cases Monday afternoon and 14 more deaths. Nearly 5,300 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the county since late February and 360 people have died.

Public health officials said 112 illnesses were confirmed among people living homeless or working at homeless service sites throughout the county, including two patients who died. That number includes a man in his 60s who was found unresponsive Monday morning at a Kent motel being used for isolation and quarantine. The man's death is the first related to COVID-19 reported among the county's homeless population.

"We are all saddened by the death of our guest," officials wrote in a statement. "People living homeless are more vulnerable to many health conditions, including COVID-19. We will continue to work around the clock to ensure that all King County residents, including those without a home, have a dignified place to be when receiving care for the virus."

According to public health, 70 people are staying in isolation, quarantine and recovery facilities in King County.

Seattle Public Schools announces temporary grading policy for high-schoolers

The Seattle School Board of Directors is directing all high schools to replace normal practices with an "A or Incomplete" policy for the spring semester. The district said its decision, announced Monday, would help ensure no students were unfairly penalized from lost classroom instruction since all schools were ordered closed last month.

"After looking at several options, we determined the "A or Incomplete" policy is the best option to make sure the extended school building closure doesn't harm any of our students, particularly those furthest from educational justice," Superindentent Denise Juneau said.

Learn more about the temporary change to Seattle's grading policy here.

Attorney General files first lawsuit related to statewide evictions moratorium

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit against a Nevada-based property company Monday, accusing the owners of a Tacoma apartment complex of willfully violating Gov. Jay Inslee's statewide moratorium on property evictions.

Ferguson said Nevada-based JRK Residential Group served "pay or vacate" notices on at least 14 residents living in The Boulders at Puget Sound and repeatedly threatened tenants via email and phone.

The lawsuit, filed in Pierce County Superior Court is seeking restitution for each tenant affected and additional civil penalties related to the Consumer Protection Act.

Washington launches new cash assistance program

The Department of Social and Health Services has activated the Disaster Cash Assistance Program, which could connect up to 175,000 households with economic relief. State officials said the temporary program allows for one-time payments through EBT cards to help pay for immediate expenses, including living costs, utilities and food.

The application process requires a phone interview and can be started online.

New test swabs approved by FDA

Health experts in Washington and across the United States have said widely available coronavirus testing will be a key factor in determining when states can begin reopening. The Associated Press reports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a change in guidelines late last week that will allow test kits to use polyester swabs and saline, rather than nylon swabs and a special transport material that are facing a global shortage.

According to the AP, the change was led by research from doctors in the Pacific Northwest who found the alternate testing materials would function properly and be much easier to procure.

Boeing resumes airplane production in Renton, Everett

Workers began returning to Boeing's production facilities in Renton and Everett Monday morning, with most employees expected to be back on the job by Tuesday. The company said strict social distancing measures were put in place and every employee is required to wear a mask on-site. According to Boeing, all workers will undergo regular health screenings, and shifts will be staggered to avoid a large number of people arriving or leaving at the same time.

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

Total confirmed cases: 12,085 (652 deaths)

King: 5,259 cases (358 deaths)
Snohomish: 2,125 cases (96 deaths)
Pierce: 1,127 cases (32 deaths)
Yakima: 805 cases (37 deaths)
Benton: 334 cases (34 deaths)
Spokane: 308 cases (17 deaths)
Whatcom: 276 cases (27 deaths)
Clark: 275 cases (15 deaths)
Skagit: 252 cases (8 deaths)
Franklin: 198 cases (4 deaths)
Island: 158 cases (8 deaths)
Grant: 142 cases (2 deaths)
Kitsap: 138 cases (1 death)
Thurston: 94 cases (1 death)
Chelan: 77 cases (5 deaths)
Adams: 43 cases
Douglas: 59 cases (1 death)
Walla Walla: 31 cases
Cowlitz: 30 cases
Jefferson: 28 cases
Mason: 22 cases
Lewis: 21 cases (2 deaths)
Klickitat: 16 cases (3 deaths)
San Juan: 14 cases
Clallam: 14 cases
Okanogan: 14 cases
Kittitas: 14 cases
Whitman: 13 cases
Asotin: 12 cases
Grays Harbor: 12 cases
Stevens: 8 cases (1 death)
Skamania: 3 cases
Pacific: 3 cases
Lincoln: 2 cases
Pend Oreille: 2 cases
Wahkiakum: 2 cases
Columbia: 1 case
Ferry: 1 case

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

*Some numbers differ from the totals provided separately by county health agencies.