Today’s live coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak in western Washington.

2:30 p.m.

Today, March 11, Governor Jay Inslee ordered all gatherings of 250 or more people be prohibited in King County and other Western Washington counties, while King County leaders also ordered gatherings with less than 250 also be minimized or prohibited. Read more at our link here; https://www.rentonreporter.com/news/events-smaller-than-250-people-banned-in-king-county/.

Public Health – King County & Seattle reported another 44 cases in the county and another four deaths. This brings King County’s total up to 234 confirmed cases and 26 deaths.

The four deaths include;

• A woman in her 90s, a Life Care Center resident, who died on March 3.
• A man in his 90s, a Life Care resident, who was hospitalized at Evergreen Health and died on March 5.
• A woman in her 60s, a Life Care resident, who was hospitalized at Evergreen Health and died on March 9.
• A woman in her 90s, a resident of Redmond Care and Rehab, who was hospitalized at Evergreen Health and died on March 10.

Public Health also announced an update on the county’s isolation and quarantine sites. The sites are for those who are not showing symptoms of COVID-19 but have been exposed and cannot quarantine in their home or who do not have a home.

“Quarantine is for people who are not currently showing symptoms, but are at increased risk for having been exposed to an infection disease,” the Public Health press release states. “Isolation is used for people who are currently ill and able to spread the disease and who need to stay away from others in order to avoid infecting them.”

One person who needed a safe place to stay was already placed at the Econolodge Hotel in Kent, which was recently purchased by the county. Read more about the purchase at our link; https://www.kentreporter.com/news/millions-of-county-dollars-to-help-transform-motels-into-an-isolation-quarantine-facility/.

CHI Franciscan also announced early on Wednesday that it is opening 11 COVID-19 triage centers in the state. The centers have the ability to screen for coronavirus. The hospital system said only those who are at high risk — the elderly and those with underlying medical issues — will be screened, as well as people who exhibit signs of infection (shortness of breath or other difficulties with breathing, fever, and coughing), or those who have been exposed to another confirmed COVID-19 patient. Read more at our link; https://www.rentonreporter.com/news/chi-opens-11-covid-19-screening-centers-around-washington/