Key Facts:
- 247 Coronavirus deaths among at least 5,984 overall cases in Washington.
- 65,462 individuals have been tested, 8% of those tests were positive.
- Five coronavirus deaths among 181 cases in Spokane County
- An employee with the Spokane Transit Authority has tested positive for coronavirus
- Track the statewide outbreak with this map of Washington counties.
Thursday, April 2
6:00 p.m.: First coroanvirus case in Pend Oreille County
The Northeast Tri County Health District announced the first case of coronavirus in Pend Oreille County on Thursday evening. No other details about the patient was released, but they are in isolation at home and the district said its in the process of informing close contacts.
The first
5:02 p.m.
MultiCare has treated 40 positive COVID-19 patients, both inpatient and outpatient, in the Inland Northwest region, according to spokesperson Kevin Maloney.
5 p.m.
Governor Jay Inslee has extended his "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order to May 4, 2020, to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
“The science is clear, more people will die if we stop now," said Gov. Inslee in a news conference Thursday evening, referring to his initial stay-at-home order which was set to expire on April 6.
The order requires residents and non-essential business owners to remain home and only leave for "essential business," such as grocery shopping or work at an essential business.
Grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, gas stations and restaurants offering takeout are among the essential businesses that will be allowed to remain open.
Gov. Inslee also urged people to reduce domestic travel, and in-person contact with anyone outside of your immediate household to help slow the spread of the deadly virus.
He did say the order could be extended beyond May 4, but it will all depend on how social distancing and other measures impact the virus.
State health officials also said on Thursday that they are predicting that Washington's peak may happen some time around April 11.
4:45 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Health is reporting 262 deaths from coronavirus statewide as of Thursday, April 2 among 6,585 total cases.
King County remains the county with the highest number of deaths at 175 among 2,609 cases county-wide.
There have been 79,418 people tested for coronavirus across the state and 6,585 of them (or 8.3%) have come back positive. The other 72,833 (or 92%) people received negative test results, according to the department of health.
1:24 p.m.
A resident of a skilled nursing facility in Cheney who has tested positive for COVID-19 is hospitalized.
Cheney Care Center was notified on Wednesday that the resident who was hospitalized on March 30 had tested positive, according to a letter from executive director Keith Fauerso.
According to Fauerso, there are no confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 at the nursing facility, but residents are being closely monitored.
11:05 a.m.
Washington state saw a 41% week-over-week increase in unemployment benefit claims last week.
Numbers released Thursday by the Washington State Employment Security Department show 181,975 new claims were filed for the week of March 22-28. The department said this is a 3,513% increase of new claims year-over-year, and seven times the peak week during the 2008-2009 recession.
“These numbers suggest two contrasting points 1) that more and more businesses and individuals are abiding by the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order – which is critical for the health of our fellow Washingtonians, and 2) this virus is having a profoundly negative impact on our economic health, and that Washington businesses and workers are hurting like never before,” said Employment Security Commissioner Suzi LeVine.
In Spokane County, initial claims filed increased from 8,766 to 12,102 last week. This is an increase of 38% from the previous week.
Nationally, more than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — doubling a record high set just one week earlier.
10:36 a.m.
Four City of Spokane firefighters who have symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 are isolating at home.
This comes after 30 firefighters were previously quarantined after coming in contact with someone while they were either on or off-duty who was displaying symptoms of COVID-19.
No firefighters have tested positive and there are no outstanding tests, said City of Spokane spokesperson Brian Coddington. No firefighters are hospitalized.
10:13 a.m.
The Washington State Nurses Association is calling on local, state and federal governments to provide “transparent, updated information on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic."
10 a.m.
Spokane County Health Officer Dr. Bob Lutz reports five deaths among 181 coronavirus cases in the county. Thirty people are hospitalized.
9 a.m.
The Spokane Regional Health District will reopen the coronavirus testing drive-thru at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds at 10 a.m. The new location is in a building that's better suited to handle inclement weather, according to Spokane Regional Health District Spokesperson Kelli Hawkins.
6:10 a.m.
The number of people hospitalized due to the coronavirus in Spokane County rises to 29. There are 165 confirmed cases, and five deaths.
5: 40 a.m.
A Spokane native living in China says things in the country are beginning to go back to normal after a two month lockdown.
“It is something that can be controlled, the situation isn’t hopeless. It’s going to take a big community effort to beat this. If America is united to solve a problem I think we are capable of anything. We need to get everyone on board," he said.
5 a.m. Boeing offers employee buyout.
The Boeing Company offered voluntary buyouts to eligible employees to try and reduce costs and adjust its workforce amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a letter to employees, Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun said eligible employees who want to exit the company will receive a pay and benefits package. Calhoun said the move "aims to reduce the need for other workforce actions."
“When the world emerges from the pandemic, the size of the commercial market and the types of products and services our customers want and need will likely be different. We will need to balance the supply and demand accordingly as the industry goes through the recovery process for years to come,” Calhoun wrote.
There are 71,829 Boeing employees in Washington state, according to the company's website.