More COVID-19 diagnoses are made in Washington state every day, an indication of both the virus’ spread and of expanded testing capacity. The state Department of Health announced 111 newly confirmed cases Wednesday, bringing the state total to 2,580 cases, including 132 deaths. State data typically indicates where newly confirmed cases and deaths occurred, but Wednesday’s did not. King County’s own Wednesday data showed it still has the bulk of Washington’s cases, with 1,359 people sickened and 100 dead.
Throughout today, on this page, we’ll be posting updates from Seattle Times journalists and others on the outbreak and its effects on the Seattle area, the Pacific Northwest and the world. Updates from Wednesday can be found here, and all our coronavirus coverage can be found here.
The White House has scheduled a news conference for 1:45 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.
Coronavirus outbreak tests limits of remote work in Seattle area
Elected officials and public health experts encouraged companies to make remote work an option weeks before Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday ordered everyone but those in essential businesses to stay home.
Prior to the outbreak, local leaders had been encouraging telework as the Puget Sound region experiences significant population growth, and with it heavy traffic congestion.
Now, the novel coronavirus outbreak is forcing a large-scale shift. Last year, fewer than 6% of people who worked in Seattle’s central area reported telecommuting at least one day a week, according to the nonprofit group Commute Seattle.
Employees who are working remotely for the first time, or the first extended period of time, amid the outbreak say they like the flexibility and convenience of working from home. However, video chatting, email and other online communication tools don’t compare to the relationships built and ideas exchanged through in-person social interaction, many say.
For parents, working from home means dividing time between professional work and caring for children, after Inslee ordered schools to close to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
see more at https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/coronavirus-daily-news-updates-march-26-what-to-know-today-about-covid-19-in-the-seattle-area-washington-state-and-the-nation/