In the two days since the previous WA coronavirus updates diary, a lot has changed. That one now seems quaintly chipper. We’re deeper in [stuff] got real mode now.
WA Department of Health coronavirus information site is here:
www.doh.wa.gov/...
Closures and Restrictions
Meetings are now limited to 250 participants across all counties. See the table at the end of Gov. Inslee’s press release for specifics. Note in particular that restrictions do not apply to tribal nations, which will have their own restrictions.
medium.com/...
K12 schools are closed in all counties until at least April 24. This will have serious consequences for parents, who may not be able to arrange child care...especially since it’s recommended that we remain isolated. The state superintendent of public instruction has a guide for parents here:
www.k12.wa.us/...
Check with your local school district about food programs for kids who depend on school lunches. For instance, Seattle Public Schools will be distributing food from a number of locations — their information about closures, including a link to food sites for students, is here:
www.seattleschools.org/…
If folks have information for other school districts, please post in the comments.
Hospitals in the most-affected counties are restricting in-person visits to patients. Some have halted visits; others allow up to two visitors. Patients can still be accompanied to appointments / admission — check with the hospital for their specific rules.
Starbucks has announced that they may be closing the seating areas at some locations, and instead having customers order ahead and pick up orders, or use drive-throughs. Where seating areas are still open, the seating density will be reduced for distancing.
Large facilities operated by King County Parks will be closed at least through April 24, and larger events, including private / rental events, are cancelled.
kingcountyparks.org/…
The Seattle Symphony will be streaming performances online.
seattlesymphony.org/...
And, yes, the Space Needle is closed.
For Workers Who Can’t Work
On a local level, many small businesses, especially cafes and restaurants, are closing. Today, a worker in a closed restaurant, near where I live in Seattle, posted a plaintive message on Nextdoor wondering what to do — the entire industry seems to be shutting down. There are now over 50 replies with advice. It’s not just restaurants — one neighbor who has a dog-walking business says that with many folks staying home, her work has dropped off. I can’t disclose private conversations, but let me just extract a few generally-applicable suggestions.
First is WA Employment Security. Gov. Inslee announced changes to unemployment and other benefit eligibility. There is detailed information for workers and businesses affected by coronavirus:
esd.wa.gov/…
Second is that some businesses are actually hiring — grocery stores, especially, are hiring drivers. Likewise delivery services are hiring.
Local utilities are announcing that they won’t be cutting folks off — details differ per utility. Here is Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s announcement re. Seattle utilities, for example:
durkan.seattle.gov/…
Cases and Counts
King County still has the most confirmed COVID-19 cases at 328, with 32 deaths, followed by Snohomish County, which is just north of King County, with 133 confirmed cases, 4 deaths, and Pierce County, to the south of King County, with 19 cases. The WA Department of Health coronavirus information page has a table:
www.doh.wa.gov/...
Three elder care facilities in the Redmond, WA area have COVID-19 cases.
www.redmond-reporter.com/...
And it’s not just nursing homes. Kossack UncleDavid reports that the Trilogy at Redmond Ridge retirement community is impacted.
Trilogy at Redmond Ridge, the biggest 55+ community in the region: a staff member tested positive 10 days ago, and we just heard that a resident has been hospitalized. That’s 1,500 homes: they are mostly standalone but sharing many common facilities.
Trilogy has closed their large community centers.
You’ll recall that the first WA cases were at the Life Care Center in Kirkland. There are now multiple other Kirkland elder care facilities with cases.
www.kirklandreporter.com/…
Other News
The state has been working to marshall supplies of personal protective equipment (e.g. masks, respirators, gowns, face shields, gloves,...). They recommend that medical facilities first go through their normal supply channels if possible. WA has also received two shipments from the federal government’s strategic reserves. As other reports have pointed out, the N-95 respirators in the strategic reserves may be past their shelf lives.
www.doh.wa.gov/…
One issue that was recognized in the earliest announcements by Gov. Inslee was, what can be done for homeless folks? They don’t have facilities for sanitation as would be needed to do that frequent hand washing we’re all advised to do.
Let me just note that most shopping malls have publicly accessible restrooms. Several large department stores do as well, including Fred Meyer and Target.
King County purchased a defunct hotel to convert to a quarantine site where homeless folks who may have COVID-19 can stay. This is having a rocky start — it is getting push-back from the city of Kent, where the hotel is located, after a person awaiting a test result left. The intent is to set up multiple facilities.
www.redmond-reporter.com/…
What Else?
WA peeps, if you have more information, please post.