Washington state’s coronavirus cases swell to 1,187 with more than 65 deaths reported
The state Department of Health reported 175 new cases of coronavirus and 15 additional fatalities attributed to the disease it causes Wednesday.
The total number of cases reported by the Department of Health statewide now is 1,187 with 66 deaths. That number did not include Pierce County’s first reported death, that of a woman in her 50s with underlying health issues.
Pierce County has a total of 56 reported cases, which is the third highest in the state.
“We do expect those numbers to go up,” Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s Director Dr. Anthony Chen told reporters Wednesday.
The state reported that nearly 16,000 coronavirus tests have been administered statewide.
The bulk of the cases have been in King County, where 562 cases and 56 deaths have been reported.
An estimated 47 percent of Washington’s reported COVID-19 patients are 60 or older. Less than 3 percent are those younger than 19.
King County has announced it will add more isolation and quarantine locations because a Kent motel currently being used for that purpose is not enough to meet the county’s demand.
Gov. Jay Inslee said in press conference on Wednesday that the state is offering a moratorium on evictions for the next 30 days. Landlords are prohibited from serving evictions for those unable to pay. The federal government will suspend foreclosures and evictions for the next 60 days.
The governor also announced he is waiving the one-week waiting period for those looking to get unemployment benefits.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 3:58 PM with the headline "Washington state’s coronavirus cases swell to 1,187 with more than 65 deaths reported."
