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EDITOR’S BLOG: Dr. Fauci and how I learned to love pandemic living

March 27, 2020

(BRANDON HANSEN/Managing Editor)

With the “Stay at Home” order and everybody trying to figure out how to grapple with this temporary way of quarantine life, I’ve decided to start putting together a blog, talking about the oddities of coronavirus living. From different fashions, to habits, to the cracked dry hands we all have now from washing too much. The only way we’re going to get through this is with a good heavy dose of humor and I am hoping to provide it right here. More

Washington scrambles to boost supply of life-saving protective items for healthcare workers

March 27, 2020

(CAMERON SHEPPARD/WNPA)

State officials say they had to be “creative,” to obtain protective equipment in global demand…

Millions of N-95 masks and other types of personal protective equipment are being delivered to Washington State as public health and emergency response officials scramble to obtain the equipment needed to respond to the growing COVID-19 outbreak.

Jerrod Davis, assistant secretary for disease control and health statistics at the Department of Health, said there is significant global demand for these kinds of items and right now the state does not have enough to satisfy the needs of its communities.

Davis explained that the state’s joint operations team at Camp Murray, composed of the Department of Enterprise Services, Department of Health, and Emergency Management Division, is working collaboratively with many partners to procure the gear they need. He said health departments across the state report the quantity of equipment that they need and the joint operation team works to fulfill them. More

STATE NEWS: Washington State Patrol Trooper dies after being hit by vehicle in Chehalis

March 27, 2020

(JACKSON GARDNER/Chronline.com)

Trooper Justin R. Schaffer

Washington State Patrol report says suspect intentionally struck trooper, fled scene…

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste announced the agency’s 30th line-of-duty death since its inception — Justin R. Schaffer, 28, badge No. 646 — Tuesday night at a press conference.

He is the son of Chehalis Police Chief Glenn Schaffer. He is survived by wife Sandra, brother Brandon and his parents, Glenn and Sheila.

“With a very heavy heart, I announce to the citizens of the great state of Washington, we lost a great trooper today,” Batiste said at a press conference. “Justin Schaffer has been with the agency for seven years, he’s done a lot of great things for the agency. He was a K-9 officer, his dog Frankie, we are going to take very good care of, a husband, a son of a police chief in this community and a wonderful mother.” More

Wolf Advisory Group virtual meeting scheduled for March 31-April 1

March 27, 2020

(PRESS RELEASE/WDFW)

Wolf Advisory Group meeting will be online and begins on March 31…

The next Wolf Advisory Group (WAG) meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., and Wednesday, April 1, from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. A meeting agenda has been posted to the Wolf Advisory Group page. Although this will be a virtual meeting, the WAG work session will be open to the public to observe and will follow the same format used previously, including public comment opportunities at the end of each day.

This meeting will be held using Zoom, an online web-conferencing tool that allows presenters to share presentations and video and allows the public to listen via computer or phone. If you are interested in joining this meeting please pre-register here. When you register you’ll also be asked if you wish to provide public comment. Pre-registering and noting that you anticipate providing public comment will help ensure public comment goes smoothly in this new digital setting. You can still join the webinar and provide comment during the meeting even if you don’t pre-register. More

Washington unemployment claims skyrocket in Thursday report

March 26, 2020

(ERIC ROSANE/For The Independent)

A new report released Thursday by the Washington State Employment Security Department shows the state is experiencing a dramatic increase in unemployment insurance claims as the fallout over the spread of COVID-19 unfolds.

ESD recorded 133,464 new claims statewide during the week of March 15 through March 21, according to a press release, which amounts to an 843-percent increase over the week prior.

That week coincided with Gov. Jay Inslee’s initial two-week closures of restaurants, bars and other businesses, which was announced on March 16 and put into place the next day. More

State closes down recreational fishing

March 25, 2020

(PRESS RELEASE/WDFW)

WDFW closes recreational fisheries statewide in wake of governor’s order to ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ in response to COVID-19…

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) today announced its decision to temporarily close recreational fishing and shellfishing statewide in the wake of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s order directing Washingtonians to stay home and stay healthy to limit the spread of coronavirus/COVID-19.

The closures will begin at midnight Wednesday, March 25 and last until at least 5 p.m. on April 8, 2020. WDFW will re-evaluate on April 6 whether the closure may need to be extended.

“This is not a decision we take lightly, but it’s the right thing to do for the health and well-being of Washington’s families,” said WDFW Director Kelly Susewind. “Monday’s extraordinary order for the residents of our state to stay home requires all of us to work together to ensure these measures have the intended effect.”

Fishery managers have reported that some anglers have been seen crowding banks as concerns over coronavirus have continued.

Inslee Orders Washingtonians to ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ Shuttering Businesses, Banning Gatherings

March 24, 2020

(RICK BANNAN/For The Independent)

Essential businesses including health care, groceries, gas stations and many others permitted to stay open…

Washington state has joined a number of other states across the country with Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement of the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order prohibiting many businesses and all gatherings for at least two weeks.

Inslee announced the order during an address Monday night. Chief among the order’s stipulations was a ban on all gatherings, both public and private of any size, while also closing businesses both deemed non-essential and not able to offer remote working options for employees.

(See a complete list of all essential businesses here: https://bit.ly/3agPI7s) More

Washington campgrounds to close through April 30

March 22, 2020

(PRESS RELEASE/Washington State Parks)

Day use areas and trails remain open…

On March 22, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission(Parks), Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Department of Natural Resources(DNR) announced the closure of all state campgrounds across Washington to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Campgrounds will remain closed through April 30.

The closure includes roofed accommodations like cabins and yurts.

No new campers will be allowed into Parks, WDFW or DNR lands beginning Monday, March 23. Current campers will be phased out following instructions from land officials. More

Hewescraft temporarily shuts down production

March 21, 2020

(PRESS RELEASE/Hewes Marine Company)

Colville factory closed down on Marc 20 and plans to resume production on April 20…

Due to the ongoing and increasing risk of infection by the COVID‐19 virus around the state of Washington, the ownership and management of Hewes Marine Company (HMC) has made the decision to temporarily shut down production of all Hewescraft boats and marine
parts/accessories for a period of four weeks. The suspension of all production functions at the HMC factory in Colville, WA took effect this morning (March 20, 2020) at 10 AM. It is our hope that HMC will resume full factory production on April 20, 2020. This decision is based on a number of factors, but the most important issue has been and continues to be the health and safety of each employee at HMC, and the health and safety of the people of Stevens County, WA and the surrounding communities. More

Inslee orders halt to elective surgeries and dental services to reserve critical equipment for COVID-19 health care workers

March 20, 2020

(PRESS RELEASE/Washington Governor Jay Inslee)

Washington Governor Inslee announced new restrictions today on non-urgent medical and dental procedures so the state can make sure Washington health care workers have enough protective equipment to wear as they work the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s order applies to any non-urgent procedure that requires medical professionals to wear personal protective equipment. This impacts all hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and dental, orthodontic and endodontic offices in Washington. The governor’s proclamation makes clear that this restriction does not apply to treatment for patients with emergency and urgent needs. More

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