Many schools closed and gatherings canceled due to virus

SEATTLE (AP) — As the death toll from the new coronavirus reached at least 30 in Washington state, officials continued to crack down on gatherings and many school children will stay home starting Thursday.

Gov. Jay Inslee plans to announce new guidelines for schools in a press conference Thursday afternoon.

Several school districts announced they will close due to the outbreak. Seattle Public Schools with 53,000 students, and Northshore Public School District with 22,000 students, closed beginning Thursday.

Lake Washington School District, which includes Kirkland, the epicenter of the outbreak in Washington state, announced Wednesday that schools will close beginning Thursday and will run through March 27. Bellevue Schools is doing the same, beginning Friday.

Snohomish County reported its third death from COVID-19 on Wednesday, while King County has 26 fatalities and Grant County had one.

At least 10 long-term care facilities in the Seattle area have reported COVID-19 cases — a worrying development as health officials have cautioned that the elderly and those with underlying conditions are especially at risk.

Inslee has banned gatherings and events of more than 250 people in three Western Washington counties covering hundreds of miles and millions of people. Oregon banned gatherings of more than 250 people statewide.

Inslee's proclamation applies to King, Snohomish and Pierce counties, which include the cities of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett, home to almost four million people. The order does not include schools or workplaces.

“This is not just your ordinary flu,” Inslee said. “This demands a response consistent with the nature of the threat.”

King County reported four new deaths from the new coronavirus on Wednesday. Three were residents of Life Care Center in Kirkland, where most of Washington state deaths have occurred. The fourth death was a woman living at the Redmond Care and Rehabilitation center. She died at EvergreenHealth on Tuesday.

Snohomish County reported late Wednesday a third death.

Washington has more than 360 confirmed cases in at least 12 counties. Twenty-two of the deaths are linked to one suburban Seattle nursing home and authorities in King County said the virus has spread to at least 10 long-term care facilities.

King County had 234 confirmed cases, Snohomish reported 75 and Pierce had 17 cases.

For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover within a few weeks.

Inslee's order prohibits “social, spiritual and recreational activities including, but not limited to, community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; conventions; fundraisers; and similar activities.”

Dow Constantine, King County executive, said at Wednesday's news conference that the county is imposing a prohibition on smaller events, with fewer than 250 people, unless they meet public health guidelines that include social distancing and screening. Those prohibitions wouldn't include grocery stores or family gatherings.

"Today’s actions will help relieve the strain on our hospital system,” Constantine said.

Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County, said the region is facing a health emergency as the number of cases double every few days.

“We expect a large-scale outbreak in weeks and this will be a very difficult time,” he said. “It’s similar to what you might think of as an infectious disease equivalent of a major earthquake that’s going to shake us for weeks and weeks.”