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

Governor Jay Inslee on March 23, 2020, announced a statewide “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order that requires everyone to stay home unless they are pursuing an essential activity such as shopping for groceries, picking up prescription medications or seeking emergency medical care.

03/30/2020

Grocery stores are open because they are essential businesses, but we still need to limit our time out of the house. 

03/29/2020
Department of Health

Gov. Jay Inslee announced additional guidance today related to the "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" proclamation to slow the spread of COVID-19. Inslee also sent a government-to-government letter to Washington's tribal communities. 

03/28/2020
Governor's Office

To support hospitals in preparing for an expected increase in COVID-19-related expenses, state and federal funding is being made available.

03/28/2020
Health Care Authority

Governor Jay Inslee, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan, and King County Executive Dow Constantine join FEMA Region 10 Administrator Mike O’Hare and Brigadier General Doug Cherry to discuss the deployment of a field hospital at CenturyLink Field Event Center

03/28/2020

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler today urged all insurers doing business in Washington to immediately extend automobile insurance coverage for personal delivery drivers to aid people temporarily assigned this duty during the coronavirus pandemic and state of emergency. 

03/27/2020
Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Gov. Jay Inslee announced new measures to combat COVID-19 today and released additional guidance for construction in his “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order.

03/26/2020
Governor's Office

The Department of Social and Health Services announced that its Community Services Offices will further reduce foot traffic from the public beginning March 26. The reduction of in-person services will remain in place until further notice.

03/26/2020
Department of Social and Health Services

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced additional flexibilities to make it easier for children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities to get food during the COVID-19 national emergency and remove administrative roadblocks for the dedicated local staff who serve them. These changes are in line with USDA’s commitment to keep Americans safe, secure, and healthy during this national emergency and explore all options to keep kids fed during this unprecedented time.

03/26/2020
United States Department of Agriculture

Food, rental assistance, small business support and health services among eligible uses of funding to 17 rural Washington counties.

 

03/26/2020
Commerce

The closures begin March 25 and last until at least 5 p.m. on April 8. WDFW will re-evaluate on April 6 whether the closure may need to be extended.

03/25/2020
Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife

Washington state today launched an online form so businesses can get clarification or submit a request for inclusion as essential under Gov. Jay Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy proclamation. The proclamation goes into effect at midnight tonight, closing non-essential businesses for the next two weeks.

03/25/2020
Commerce

The FDA is beginning to see unauthorized fraudulent test kits that are being marketed to test for COVID-19 in the home.

03/25/2020
Food and Drug Administration

Today, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced the temporary closure of all state-managed parks, wildlife areas and water access areas for at least two weeks starting Wednesday, March 25.

03/24/2020
Washington State Parks