Coronavirus Cases Surpass 13,000 In Washington; 738 Deaths

SEATTLE, WA — Lab testing has confirmed another 342 cases of the new coronavirus in Washington as of Saturday, bringing the state's number of confirmed cases well past 13,000 since the outbreak began in January.

A total of 13,319 people have tested positive for the virus, including 738 who died from COVID-19. The state has tested 170,594 people for the virus, with 7.8% testing positive.

Catch up on other recent developments:

Washington prepares for billions of dollars in losses

Even once Washington's economy fully reopens, the effect on state revenues from the coronavirus shutdown is expected to be felt for months and maybe years to come, the Associated Press reports..

In February, lawmakers received good news with their quarterly revenue forecast that showed state revenues looked to increase by about $606 million in the current two-year budget cycle that ends mid-2021, and an additional $536 million for the next two-year budget that ends mid-2023, pushing projected revenues for that budget cycle to $55.7 billion.

Two months later, with a stay-at-home order in place and non-essential businesses closed, that positive forecast has been turned upside down. Now, a reduction of $5 billion in projected state revenues over the next three years "would be very optimistic thinking," according to David Schumacher, the head of the Office of Financial Management.

Sea-Tac Airport expects to lose $251 million through 2020

Nosediving passenger traffic and flight cancellations will cost Seattle-Tacoma International Airport approximately $251 million by the end of 2020, airport director Lance Lyttle said Thursday, representing a 37% blow to the airport's anticipated revenue for the year.

The anticipated hit to revenues is well above the $192 million in federal funds authorized for the airport's use by the coronavirus aid package, the Associated Press reported.

Seattle caps delivery fees, requires all tips to go to drivers

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan signed an emergency order Friday, imposing a 15 percent cap on fees that app-based delivery services can charge restaurants during the coronavirus crisis. The mayor's order also mandates third-party delivery companies provide 100 percent of tips to their drivers, without making any changes to compensation.

"We know that so many of our small businesses are hurting because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that delivery services have been a lifeline for our restaurants during this unprecedented time," Durkan said.

"Unfortunately, some third-party delivery services are charging exorbitant commission fees, which exacerbates the financial hardship many restaurants are already experiencing."

Seattle Opera rehires workers after receiving $2.3 million federal loan

Seattle Opera has received a $2.3 million loan through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), part of the federal government's coronavirus stimulus package, the Seattle Times reports.

The loan will enable Seattle Opera to rehire 180 workers, at least temporarily, weeks after it had to lay off 215 people due to loss of revenue.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases by county (from the Washington Department of Health*)

Total confirmed cases: 13,319 (738 deaths)

King: 5,739 cases (400 deaths)
Snohomish: 2,297 cases (102 deaths)
Pierce: 1,235 cases (46 deaths)
Yakima: 976 cases (44 deaths)
Benton: 399 cases (37 deaths)
Spokane: 345 cases (19 deaths)
Clark: 296 cases (18 deaths)
Skagit: 287 cases (10 deaths)
Whatcom: 284 cases (27 deaths)
Franklin: 250 cases (5 deaths)
Island: 161 cases (9 deaths)
Grant: 150 cases (2 deaths)
Kitsap: 144 cases (2 deaths)
Thurston: 101 cases (1 death)
Chelan: 90 cases (5 deaths)
Douglas: 70 cases (1 death)
Walla Walla: 50 cases
Adams: 46 cases
Cowlitz: 39 cases
Lewis: 29 cases (3 deaths)
Jefferson: 28 cases
Mason: 22 cases
Asotin: 17 cases (1 death)
Okanogan: 17 cases (1 death)
Klickitat: 16 cases (3 deaths)
Clallam: 15 cases
Kittitas: 14 cases
San Juan: 14 cases
Whitman: 14 cases
Grays Harbor: 12 cases
Stevens: 10 cases (1 death)
Pacific: 4 cases
Skamania: 3 cases
Lincoln: 2 cases
Pend Oreille: 2 cases
Wahkiakum: 2 cases
Columbia: 1 case
Ferry: 1 case

137 cases and one death remain unassigned to individual counties. The state is still determining how to sort the hundreds of cases with no definite origin.

*Some numbers differ from the totals provided separately by county health agencies.

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