Washington state health officials reported 13 new deaths from the coronavirus on Wednesday, bringing the state tally of fatalities to 67 – the highest in the country.
Also, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a 30-day statewide moratorium on evictions of residential tenants as the state continues to grapple with containing the spread of COVID-19 and the impact it is having on the state’s economy as businesses are forced to temporarily close and employees are laid off.
Ten of the newly announced deaths were in King County and five were associated with the Life Care Center, a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington. To date, 35 of the state’s death were linked to that facility. Overall, 56 deaths have been reported in King County. Clark County also reported a death Wednesday – the county’s third. Pierce county reported its first fatality from the disease and Snohomish County has reported six deaths. Grant County has reported one death.
Inslee’s move to help people facing housing issues came as the Federal Housing Finance Agency directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to suspend foreclosures and evictions for at least 60 days due to the outbreak. The state moratorium was among several policies announced Wednesday that are intended to offer relief to businesses and their employees as the number of coronavirus cases topped 1,100.
For workers who have been laid after after the statewide order that closed restaurants, bars, gyms and other facilities through at least the end of the Month, Inslee announced a waiver of the one week waiting period to receive unemployment insurance. The order is retroactive for claims filed up to March 8, the day of the governor’s first emergency rule expanding unemployment insurance criteria to cover more workers impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. (AP)
