400 New Coronavirus Cases Confirmed In Washington; 34 More Dead

SEATTLE, WA — The state department of health confirmed 400 additional cases of the new coronavirus in Washington Monday evening and 34 more deaths linked to complications from COVID-19. The numbers reflect lab-confirmed cases reported by 11:59 p.m. Sunday night.

Across the state, 8,384 have been diagnosed with the illness since the outbreak began, and 372 people have died.

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Seattle and King County Public Health confirmed 164 new cases and 14 more deaths linked to complications from COVID-19 since the last update Sunday. Lab tests have confirmed 3,331 coronavirus illnesses in King County since the outbreak began and 222 residents have died.

In Pierce County, the health department reported 31 additional cases Monday, bringing the total to 717, and two more deaths: a man in his 90s from Tacoma and a Bonney Lake woman in her 80s.

Whatcom County health officials added 41 new cases in one day and four additional deaths.

The Washington Department of Health is in the process of modifying their database to change how they track negative test results, which will temporarily prevent those numbers from being available, according to a post on their website. Ongoing issues with the database has led to delays in reporting in some instances, due to the volume of negative results overwhelming the system.

Updated UW model predicts fewer coronavirus deaths in Washington

New projections from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation forecast 632 COVID-19 deaths in Washington by the end of the outbreak, down from an earlier estimate of approximately 1,400 deaths.

The latest modeling is based on new data from several states and takes into account the time between strict social distancing measures in Italy and Spain and the virus's peak. Researchers believe, if people continue to adhere to public health mandates throughout the state, Washington's daily numbers of deaths linked to the virus should begin to trend downward after this week.

Inslee extends statewide school closures to June 19

Traditional classroom instruction will remain on-hold through the end of the school year, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday afternoon. The initial closure went into effect in mid-March and with classes set to resume by April 27. Under the extension, all closures will remain in place until June 19.

The governor left the door open for the possibility that some traditional graduation ceremonies could be possible over the summer, depending on the state's success in fully containing COVID-19. School districts are encouraged to continue remote learning programs through the school year and officials are working to ensure the smooth transition of graduating seniors into higher education.

Petition to release at-risk inmates moves forward as first prisoner tests positive for COVID-19

A petition seeking the release of thousands of inmates at-risk for developing coronavirus complications took its first steps before the state's highest court Monday. According to Columbia Legal Services, who filed the suit on behalf of the inmates, all briefs are due to the court by April 16, and the court has agreed to hear the case in an expedited manner.

An inmate at the Monroe Correctional Complex was the first prisoner to test positive for COVID-19 within state facilities, corrections officials announced Monday. The Seattle Times reports family members of those incarcerated rallied outside the prison Monday afternoon, demanding the state act to prevent a devasting outbreak.

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

Total confirmed cases: 8,384 (372 deaths)

King: 3,295 cases (220 deaths)
Snohomish: 1,522 cases (55 deaths)
Unassigned: 1,066 cases**
Pierce: 590 cases (12 deaths)
Yakima: 346 cases (12 deaths)
Spokane: 203 cases (11 deaths)
Whatcom: 183 cases (19 deaths)
Benton: 172 cases (17 deaths)
Skagit: 162 cases (4 deaths)
Clark: 154 cases (8 deaths)
Island: 133 cases (6 deaths)
Kitsap: 108 cases
Grant: 85 cases (2 deaths)
Thurston: 66 cases (1 death)
Franklin: 64 cases (2 deaths)
Chelan: 29 cases (2 deaths)
Adams: 26 cases
Jefferson: 25 cases
Cowlitz: 17 cases
Lewis: 16 cases
Mason: 15 cases
Walla Walla: 14 cases
Whitman: 12 cases
Kittitas: 12 cases
Klickitat: 10 cases (1 death)
Douglas: 10 cases
Okanogan: 9 cases
San Juan: 9 cases
Clallam: 8 cases
Grays Harbor: 6 cases
Stevens: 5 cases
Asotin: 4 cases
Wahkiakum: 2 cases
Columbia: 1 case
Ferry: 1 case
Lincoln: 1 case
Pend Oreille: 1 case
Skamania: 1 case

*Some numbers differ from the totals provided separately by county health agencies.
**Health agencies are still working to determine the appropriate jurisdiction for cases marked "unassigned."