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There are now at least 11,445 cases of COVID-19 in the state, mostly in King and Snohomish counties, outside of Seattle. At least 603 people have died, according to the Washington Department of Health.
In King County, 4,8656 people have become infected and 330 people have died from the virus, with another 2,032 infected and 89 deaths from COVID-19 in Snohomish County. About 8.7% of people are testing positive, and the state has conducted at least 131,627 tests, according to the department of health. The state seems to have resolved its issues in reporting data.
About 31% of the positive cases are in people younger than 40. However, 100% of deaths have been in people older than 40, with about 54% of deaths occurring in those 80 years or older. Though more cases have been diagnosed in women, about 57% of men diagnosed with COVID-19 have died.
In addition, those who identify as Black or Hispanic are overrepresented amongst COVID-19 cases; though Blacks make up 4% of Washington's population, they make up 7% of he cases. Hispanics make up 13% of Washington's population, but 25% of known cases.
Latest updates
—Another sign that Washington has bent the curve: the COVID-19 tests analyzed at the University of Washington Virology lab that come back positive peaked on March 28, according to the Seattle Times. Right now, 8.5% of all samples are coming back positive, whereas a few weeks ago, 12% to 13% of test samples came back positive for COVID-19. If this trend continues, the fraction of tests coming back positive could dip below 1% by mid-May, the Seattle Times reported. the UW Virology lab has conducted about half of all coronavirus testing for the state.—Gov. Jay Inslee gave the rough outlines of what an economic reopening would look like in the state. That opening would likely be phased, though details are still sketchy. Those that were closed last, such as nonessential businesses, could be first to reopen, while those that were banned first, such as large gatherings, would be the last to come back, Inslee said on Wednesday (April 15).
—The University of Washington Medical Center and Harborview will now test all incoming patients for COVID-19, in order to better protect clinicians caring for them, KUOW reported. Previously, only those who had symptoms were tested, but reports of asymptomatic patients testing positive prompted the change.
—Washington, Oregon and California have signed a pact to aid in the recovery of their economies. According to a statement, released by Inslee, Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California,
"COVID-19 has preyed upon our interconnectedness. In the coming weeks, the West Coast will flip the script on COVID-19 – with our states acting in close coordination and collaboration to ensure the virus can never spread wildly in our communities."
The statement focuses on how to ramp up testing, improve contract tracing and prepare adequate amounts of personal protective equipment.
—The number of COVID-19 in nursing homes has doubled over the first week of April, according to the Washington State Department of Social Health and Services, which oversees nursing homes.
—There are conflicting reports as to whether there's an outbreak of COVID-19 on the USS Nimitz, which is stationed off the coast of Bermerton, Wash., before a scheduled departure, the Kitsap Sun reported. The Pentagon suggests cases do exist.
Gen. John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday, that the Nimitz does have cases.
"There's been a very small number of breakouts on the Nimitz, and we're watching that very closely before the Nimitz goes out," he said. "But it's not a huge breakout, it's not a big spike at this point."
Meanwhile, the Navy is denying any confirmed cases onboard. According to a navy spokesperson, one person had symptoms, but results of testing were inconclusive, according to the Kitsap Sun. That sailor, along with others who were in close contact with him, were placed in quarantine. The sailor with symptoms is being treated off ship, according to the Kitsap Sun.
—An EvergreenHealth emergency physician who was in critical condition has been discharged from the hospital, the Seattle Times reported. Ryan Padgett was put on life support, but improved after receiving the drug Actemra, an immunosuppressant approved for treating rheumatoid arthritis. This potential COVID-19 treatment inhibits the action of the inflammatory chemical interleukin-6 (IL-6). This chemical, IL-6, is elevated in people whose immune systems overreact in what's known as a cytokine storm. Though doctors can't say for sure that it helped Padgett improve, but studies are ongoing, according to Local12.
—The field hospital being set up by the U.S. Army at Seattle's CenturyLink Event Center will be moved to another state that has a greater need, KIRO reported. That information is more evidence that Washington's efforts and physical distancing are working to limit the spread of COVID-19.
"The hospitals here in western Washington are not at capacity right now and there’s a pretty compelling need elsewhere in the country as you can see," Robert Ezelle, the head of the state's Emergency Management Division, told KIRO.
—About 100 Inmates at Monroe Correctional Complex in Monroe, Wash. staged a protest in response to other prisoners testing positive for COVID-19. Six people n the Minimum Security Unit have tested positive for the virus, and were taken to isolation units, according to NPR.
—Congress members from Washington State have requested that the federal government provide additional testing sample kits. The state has the capacity to run many tests, but it can't run at full capacity because the state is is running out of supplies needed to collect specimens, KIRO reported.
—Thanks to the state's efforts at "flattening the curve," the state is no longer projected to have a shortage of ventilators. As a result, Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Sunday (April 5) that he is returning 400 ventilators to the National Strategic Stockpile, so that states in more dire need can use them.
"These ventilators are going to New York and others states hardest hit by this virus," Inslee said in a statement. "I’ve said many times over the last few weeks, we are in this together. This should guide all of our actions at an individual and state level in the coming days and weeks."
—Gov. Jay Inslee announced that the state's K-12 schools would remain closed for the remainder of the school year, until midnight of June 19.
—Inslee also extended the stay-home order for another 30 days, to May 4, to ensure the gains on the new coronavirus that were hard-won by social distancing efforts are not rapidly undone.
—The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a clinical trial of a Seattle-based immunotherapy for the treatment of COVID-19. The drug, made by Seattle-based Infectious Disease Research Institute and New Jersey-based Cellularity, is an infusion of natural killer cells (NK cells), a type of immune cell. In studies, patients suffering from COVID-19 pneumonia had low levels of these cells; the trial aims to deliver NK cells to patients with severe cases of pneumonia to see if it can improve outcomes, according to KOMO.
—The University of Washington is calling on people who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate plasma. Such "convalescent plasma" may be full of antibodies that could help patients fight off the disease. Early studies in China have shown hints of positive results, and a trial of such treatment is getting started in New York as well, Live Science previously reported. Those who are interested should email covidplasma@uw.edu, or call 206-520-4212 .
—At least 90 senior care facilities across the state have had an outbreak of COVID-19, according to an investigative report by the Seattle Times. Of the 517 patients and staff who tested positive for COVID-19 at these centers, 66 have died, according to the Seattle Times. However, a shortage of tests means that even when a confirmed case is diagnosed at one of these centers, they are often unable to test everyone there, making it hard to contain the spread.
When will the peak hit Washington?
After a month of a relentless upward curve, the Pacific Northwest has likely passed its peak. Hospitalizations in the state declined last week, a sign that social distancing measures in the state have worked to slow spread of the disease, according to the Seattle Times. Hospitalizations rose from 61 patients the week of February 29 to a high of 251 people admitted during the week that ended March 21. Last week, 193 people were admitted to hospitals around the state. Since then, hospitalizations have generally been declining.That data is an indication that the state may have already hit its peak.
Timeline of coronavirus in the state
- April 13: Gov. Jay Inslee, Gov. Kate Brown and Gov. Gavin Newsom announce the Western State Pact, which will aid in the recovery of the economies. Details are slated to be released on Tuesday, April 14.
- April 5: Inslee officially closed school until the end of the term, which ends on June 19.
- April 2: Inslee extended his mandatory stay-at-home order through May 4.
- March 25: Effective at midnight, Inslee amended his mandatory stay-at home proclamation to impose more stringent restrictions. All people were ordered to stay home unless they are performing essential activities or are employed in an essential business. Essential activities include procuring food, medicine or necessary supplies for their family, caring for a family member or pet, or seeking medical care. Outdoor exercise such as hiking and biking are allowed, assuming people can maintain social distancing. All nonessential businesses in the state were ordered temporarily closed.
- March 23: Gov. Jay Inslee issued a mandatory stay-at-home proclamation for the entire state. The "Stay home, stay healthy" order, which requires everyone to stay at home unless they are conducting essential business, closes all business except those deemed essential, and bans all spiritual, recreational and social gatherings, followed on the heels of a series of less restrictive measures meant to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Essential businesses, such as doctors' offices and grocery stores, will remain open, and people are allowed to engage in outdoor activity such as dog walking, exercising and gardening as long as they engage in social distancing by keeping 6 feet (1.8 meters) away from other people.
- "The less time we spend in public, the more lives we will save," Inslee said.
- March 19: Inslee approves an emergency measure drawing $200 million from the state's "rainy day fund" to help alleviate the impact of coronavirus. Most of that money, or about $175 million, will go to the public health system, with the remainder to be set aside for unemployment, according to KIRO7.
- March 16: The state issues a shutdown of restaurants, bars, entertainment and recreational facilities. Restaurants will still be able to offer takeout and delivery, and hiking trails, pharmacies, gas stations, pet stores and grocery stores will remain open. Retail facilities can remain open but must reduce occupancy, according to the emergency proclamation. Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned.
- March 13: Inslee closes all K-12 schools in the state. The large gathering ban is extended to include the entire state.
- March 12: Inslee closes K-12 public schools in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties. Initially, the order kept schools closed from March 17 to April 24.
- March 11: A ban on large gatherings of more than 250 people is instituted in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties.
- March 10: The state restricts visitors to nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Only adults can visit, must sign in at each visit, and must confine their visits to their loved ones' room. Employees must be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 at the start of each shift.
- February 29: The first death is reported, at a long-term care facility, the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington. Experts are not sure how the virus made its way into the center, which holds 190 beds, but ultimately at least 37 people die at the facility. Inslee issues an emergency proclamation for the state.
- January 19: Washington becomes the first state to report the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The first case occurred in a 35-year-old Snohomish man who had returned from visiting family in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 15. Though the man mostly stayed home, it eventually becomes clear the virus was circulating undetected in his community for weeks.
Cases by county:
|
40
|
0
| |
|
11
|
0
| |
|
293
|
32
| |
|
64
|
5
| |
|
14
|
0
| |
|
246
|
14
| |
|
1
|
0
| |
|
27
|
0
| |
|
30
|
1
| |
|
1
|
0
| |
|
167
|
4
| |
|
0
|
0
| |
|
132
|
2
| |
|
12
|
0
| |
|
157
|
8
| |
|
28
|
0
| |
|
4,865
|
330
| |
|
133
|
1
| |
|
14
|
0
| |
|
16
|
3
| |
|
19
|
2
| |
|
2
|
0
| |
|
22
|
0
| |
|
14
|
0
| |
|
1
|
0
| |
|
2
|
0
| |
|
1,031
|
30
| |
|
15
|
0
| |
|
222
|
6
| |
|
3
|
0
| |
|
2,032
|
89
| |
|
290
|
15
| |
|
7
|
1
| |
|
89
|
1
| |
|
2
|
0
| |
|
26
|
0
| |
|
269
|
25
| |
|
12
|
0
| |
|
692
|
34
| |
|
Unassigned
|
444
|
0
|
|
Total
|
11,445
|
603
|
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