Inslee: COVID slowing, but state has not turned corner

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday that the rate of increase in COVID-19 cases in Washington state appears to have started slowing.

Inslee noted that this “small reduction” was “a glimmer of hope,” but it was not yet proof the state had “turned the corner” in its fight against the virus.

“We’re not close to the end,” Inslee said during a press conference. “But the community mitigation strategies we instituted have been able to slow the rate of increase in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties.”

By “community mitigation strategies,” Inslee meant orders he started issuing two weeks ago, such as closing schools, banning large gatherings and closing “non-essential” businesses. He eventually issued a shelter-in-place order for all non-essential employees in Washington in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Things we did two weeks ago are now appearing in our hospitals,” the governor said.

Such “social distancing” measures are designed to slow or prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which is primarily transmitted through personal contact and in-person interactions, according to public health officials.

However, Inslee warned that the slowed rate of increase only appears to be true for the most heavily affected counties of the Puget Sound area.

“We’re not lowering it in other areas of the state. We’re not bending the curve,” he said. “And we’re looking at a wave of fatalities.”

As of Thursday, there were 39 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Grant County. Three cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in Adams County, according to the Adams County Health Department.

Inslee said the state had so far committed $2 million to help rural hospitals and another $1.8 million in emergency funds to help local governments and districts cope with the COVID-19 outbreak.

He said he would use two promised military field hospitals where they are most needed.

The governor also asked retired doctors, nurses and other health care workers to volunteer as part of a “medical militia” for several weeks as part of the effort against COVID-19. The state would do whatever was needed to “smooth the way” to restore licenses for whoever volunteered.

“This can make all the difference in the world,” he said.

“Thank you,” he added as he ended the press conference. “Wash your hands.”