Coronavirus daily news updates, March 26: What to know today about COVID-19 in the Seattle area, Washington state and the nation

March 26, 2020

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday night unanimously passed an unprecedented $2 trillion measure that expands unemployment benefits and aids businesses struggling with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The House has yet to vote on the legislation, which was approved by the White House on Tuesday, but Washington transit, businesses and hospitals are already debating whether the funding would serve as a lifeline or dry up too quickly.

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.

You can watch it here:

The following graphic includes the most recent numbers from the Washington State Department of Health, released Wednesday evening.

Live updates:

1:21 pm

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.

And in an economy as diverse as Seattle’s, not all jobs lend themselves to remote work, and some geographic areas can present challenges.

Read the full story here.

—Michelle Baruchman

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/

Coronavirus daily news updates, March 26: What to know today about COVID-19 in the Seattle area, Washington state and the nation