Patient visitation suspended at all UW Medicine hospitals over coronavirus concerns

SEATTLE - UW Medicine hospitals are suspending routine patient visits starting Wednesday (March 11) in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.The new policy -- in place at UW Medical Center (Montlake and Northwest campuses in Seattle), Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and Valley Medical Center in Renton -- is in effect until further notice."This is a difficult decision.

Stanwood Camano School District to close Wednesday; Snohomish SD will reopen

Some Western Washington schools announced closures and others will reopen on Wednesday, March 11 amid the coronavirus outbreak. We'll update this page as we learn more from local districts.

Two more coronavirus deaths in King County as 10 nursing homes report positive tests

Two more King County nursing home residents have died after contracting COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths in the county to 22 and the statewide number to 24 as of Tuesday afternoon (March 10).

AP Source: Inslee expected to ban large gatherings in King, Pierce, Snohomish counties

SEATTLE -- The Associated Press has learned Washington state's governor will ban gatherings and events of more than 250 people in virtually the entire Seattle metro area to try to contain the coronavirus outbreak.The state has at least 24 COVID-19 deaths, the most in the U.S. The person who spoke about the decision late Tuesday was involved in the planning of the decision but spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly.Gov.

State expands unemployment benefits for workers impacted by COVID-19 outbreak

OLYMPIA -- The state has rolled out new rules designed to help Washington state workers who are facing financial hardship from the COVID-19 outbreak.Inslee, speaking at a press conference in Olympia Tuesday, said these new worker protections are in addition to the steps that several of the state's largest companies have taken to help hourly employees and supporting businesses "weather this difficult period."Telecommuting, school closures and quarantines around the state have brought a big dip in business to restaurants, movie theaters, bars, hotels and other industries, particularly in Seattle where tens of thousands of tech workers are now working from home.As of Tuesday, there were 162 presumptive positive novel coronavirus cases in eight Washington counties.

Snohomish, Meridian school districts, several Tacoma schools closing after positive coronavirus tests

Four schools in Tacoma also have closures this week after individuals tested "presumptive positive" for coronavirus at Sheridan Elementary, Lowell Elementary and Wilson High School.Administrators said this is in addition to the presumptive positive test that forced the closure of Mary Lyon Elementary.

Hospitality, restaurant and other businesses seeing huge drops in customers amid coronavirus crisis

SEATTLE – The coronavirus crisis is having a huge impact on local business, including those working on the front lines of the entertainment and hospitality industry.Some business owners have already decided to close up shop in an effort to survive the steep decline in business.The lights are on, bars and restaurants are open but there just aren’t very many customers.Businesses owners are not only worried about what happens next, they also share concern about how their staff will survive.“It’s super still and calm,” said cyclist Elizabeth Doll during her afternoon commute through Seattle. “Usually I run into traffic especially in the morning and there was just nothing today.”“If it stays like this for more than a few weeks we’re in trouble,” said co-owner of Terra Platta restaurant Linda DiLello Morton.

Coronavirus: New test results find 31 positive cases at Life Care Center in Kirkland

SEATTLE -- A spokesman for the Kirkland, Washington nursing home that is the site of the worst COVID-19 outbreak in the United States said Monday that 31 residents still in the facility have tested positive for the virus.In a news conference Monday evening, the Life Care Center official announced the latest coronavirus test results for 35 residents:

Pearl Jam postpones tour amid coronavirus outbreak

SEATTLE -- Pearl Jam on Monday announced it would postpone the first leg of its 2020 North American Tour amid the coronavirus outbreak."So we are being told that being part of large gatherings is high on the list of things to avoid as this global health crisis is now beginning to affect all of our lives," the band wrote on Twitter."This scheduled first leg of our PJ/Gigaton tour will need to be postponed and shows rescheduled for a later date."

Coronavirus death toll reaches 22 statewide after three more Life Care residents die

KING COUNTY -- Three more people diagnosed with novel coronavirus have died in King County, bringing the countywide death toll to 20 and the statewide death toll to 22.According to Seattle & King County Public Health, 33 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported through 11:59 p.m. Sunday (March 8).

Seattle area's largest companies chip in $2.5 million to help people impacted by coronavirus

SEATTLE (AP) — Major Seattle businesses including Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks and Alaska Airlines are chipping in to help those hit hardest economically by the new coronavirus.The companies joined with the city of Seattle, King County and the Seattle Foundation on Monday to announce $2.5 million in donations to a new philanthropic fund.The effort intends to give out an initial round of “rapid response grants” in the next few weeks.

Oregon declares state of emergency to fight new coronavirus

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency on Sunday to contain the new coronavirus after the number of confirmed cases doubled to 14 from the previous day.

Gates Foundation to soon offer home-testing kits for coronavirus in Seattle area

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced it will begin offering home-testing kits for people in the Seattle area for the new coronavirus in the coming weeks.

Washington state coronavirus cases top 100, including 16 deaths

KIRKLAND, Wash. -- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington state topped 100 on Saturday, including 16 deaths.The Washington State Department of Health announced more than 20 new cases Saturday, saying a total of 102 people in the state have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.