Gov. Inslee declares state of emergency in Washington over virus
The governor of Washington state declared a state of emergency Saturday after a person died there of COVID-19, marking the first such reported death in the United States.
Gov. Jay Inslee directed state agencies to use “all resources necessary” to prepare for and respond to the outbreak. The declaration also allows the use of the Washington National Guard, if necessary.
Health officials in California, Oregon and Washington state worried about the novel coronavirus spreading through West Coast communities after confirming at least three patients were infected by unknown means. The patients had not visited an area where there was an outbreak, nor apparently been in contact with anyone who had.
Washington state officials issued a terse news release announcing the death there, gave no details and scheduled a news conference. A spokesperson for EvergreenHealth Medical Center, Kayse Dahl, said the person died in the facility in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland, but gave no other details.
https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/gov-inslee-declares-state-of-emergency-in-washington-over-virus/
