The state of Washington will return more than 400 ventilators it has received from the federal government so they can go to New York and other states hit harder by the coronavirus. Governor Jay Inslee says his statewide stay-at-home order and weeks of social distancing have led to slower rates of infections and deaths in the Evergreen State, which has nearly 8-thousand confirmed cases of the virus and 338 deaths. As of Sunday, New York has more than 122-thousand confirmed cases and more than 4-thousand deaths. Washington received 500 ventilators last month from the Strategic National Stockpile. Retired Vice Admiral Raquel Bono, director of the state’s COVID-19 Health System Response Management, says mitigation efforts put in place by Inslee resulted in fewer infections in communities, allowing the state to help others who have a more immediate need. Officials say that while the ventilators are not powerful enough to treat coronavirus patients, they can be used for other patients to free up stronger ventilators. Inslee says residents need to continue to stay home, wash hands, and maintain social distancing to make sure Washington’s success in fighting the virus continues. (AP)
