Washington Coronavirus Outbreak: What To Know Monday

SEATTLE, WA — As health agencies across the United States work around the clock to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, Washington state remains the epicenter of the outbreak, with the highest concentration of cases and deaths linked to the virus. Over the weekend, leaders in Washington and around the nation began implementing more significant "social distancing" measures, and thousands of businesses will have to close their doors.

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Here are a few things to know for Monday:

• Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign an emergency declaration Monday morning, mandating the closure of all bars, entertainment and recreational facilities, while limiting restaurants to deliveries and take-out options. The updated order will also forbid gatherings of 50 or more people, mirroring new guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Earlier Sunday, governors in Illinois, Ohio and Massachusetts ordered statewide closures for bars and restaurants. Mayors in other major cities, like Los Angeles and New York City, enacted similar bans.
• State health officials have confirmed 769 cases of COVID-19 in Washington, and 42 people have died from complications linked to the illness.
• An emergency room doctor at EvergreenHealth, the Kirkland hospital at the forefront of treating coronavirus patients in Washington, tested positive for COVID-19 and was listed in critical condition Sunday afternoon.
• A clinical trial for a coronavirus vaccine is scheduled to begin Monday at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle.
• Inslee said his office had successful discussions with the federal government to facilitate drive-thru coronavirus testing options, in partnership with local pharmacies.
• On Saturday, the governor firmly denied rumors that his office had considered measures "to quarantine or seal off any part of Washington state."
• Monday is the last possible day for classroom instruction in Washington. All schools must in the state must close before Tuesday and will not reopen before April 27.
• In Seattle, the school district will open grab-and-go meal sites for all students Monday. Distribution locations have been set up at more than two dozen schools in the city.
• Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has signed a moratorium on all rent-related evictions during the coronavirus emergency.
• Seattle's Office of Economic Development is now accepting applications for its Small Business Stabilization Fund, providing up to $10,000 to businesses with five or fewer employees.
• Citing social distancing guidelines, Starbucks announced Sunday it would close some stores and transition a majority of them to a "to-go model," eliminating indoor and outdoor seating. REI announced it would close 162 stores for at least two weeks, while continuing to pay all employees.
• Shoppers overwhelmed grocery stores nationwide over the weekend, prompting state health officials to issue a statement urging people to avoid stockpiling and take only the supplies they need.
• Boeing, which has yet to recover from the crisis over its 737 MAX fleet, may have to slash production even further, with air travel declining around the globe. The Seattle Times reports the company employs 72,000 people in Washington.