News

Regular updates can be found on the Department of Health’s Public Health Connection blog or the Governor's blog, or you can subscribe to daily bulletins from the state’s Joint Information Center.

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Latest News Conference

Governor Jay Inslee holds a news conference to provide an update on the state's COVID-19 response.

| Governor's Office

Visitors to the Department of Health’s COVID-19 homepage may notice a change starting today, May 3 – a link to improved data visualizations.

05/03/2020

During the week of April 19-25, there were 1,455,908 total claims for unemployment benefits filed by Washingtonians for unemployment benefits, according to the Employment Security Department (ESD).

05/02/2020

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler extended his emergency order to Washington state health insurers for 30 days, requiring them to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for coronavirus (COVID-19).

05/01/2020

Gov. Jay Inslee announced the extension of six proclamations today in response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

05/01/2020

Gov. Jay Inslee issued a memo to state agencies detailing a new language access plan that will ensure state agencies can provide vital COVID-19 information to individuals with disabilities and with limited English proficiency.

04/30/2020

Governor Jay Inslee sent a letter today requesting that President Trump authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide 100 percent federal assistance under the Stafford Act for the COVID-19 pandemic in Washington state.

04/30/2020
Governor's Office

El gobernador Jay Inslee emitió ayer un memorándum a las agencias estatales detallando un nuevo plan de apoyo lingüístico que garantizará que las agencias estatales puedan proporcionar información vital acerca del COVID-19 a las personas con discapacidades y personas con conocimiento limitado del

04/30/2020

Gov. Jay Inslee issued a statement today in response to the news that the federal government will be invoking the Defense Production Act in order to increase available testing supplies for states. "I am pleased to announce that following our state’s advocacy for a strong national testing system for COVID-19, the federal government has informed my staff they will be invoking the Defense Production Act to significantly increase domestic production of testing supplies and providing these materials to Washington and other states."

04/30/2020

In an effort to maintain the quality and safety standards at foster group homes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is currently recruiting a pool of temporary, on-call staff who can step in to work at various Behavior Rehabilitation Services (BRS) facilities across the state.

04/30/2020

Gov. Jay Inslee today announced a new COVID-19 risk assessment dashboard to aid the state in gauging when and how to best lift restrictions around ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy” in Washington.

04/29/2020

The Business and Workers update is a weekly newsletter providing news and information to help businesses and workers navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The information is compiled by the state Economic Resiliency Team (ERT), part of the Joint Information Center at Camp Murray.

04/29/2020

On Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a plan to allow current construction projects to be completed. Today, the governor clarified the initial guidance memo and issued a guide to frequently asked questions about construction activities.

04/29/2020

The Department of Commerce last week provided up to $1,000 in rental assistance and up to $500 in energy assistance for households that qualify for the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The crisis funding will be distributed through Commerce’s statewide network of community action agencies, and is expected to serve an estimated 5,000 eligible households.

04/28/2020

El regreso a la vida pública se llevará a cabo por medio de etapas cuantificadas. Será guiado por la ciencia y fundamentado en nuestras necesidades de salud pública, nuestra capacidad para mitigar el impacto y la respuesta de las comunidades.

04/28/2020