Governor Inslee To Hold Press Conference Sunday Morning To Announce COVID-19 Restrictions

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has scheduled a news conference for Sunday morning as COVID-19 case numbers soar throughout the Pacific Northwest.

According to the Seattle Times, industry officials that were briefed by the Governor’s staff say Inslee will announce a ban on indoor social gatherings, and indoor service at restaurants and bars.

The Seattle Times was also informed that the governor will impose occupancy limits for retailers as well.

Inslee’s office said he would discuss actions to combat the crisis. For the second day in a row Saturday, Washington state health officials reported a record number of daily cases, with 2,233 new cases.  That brought the state’s totals to 127,731 cases and 2,519 deaths.

In Oregon, officials on Saturday reported a third straight day with more than 1,000 new COVID infections. That brought Oregon’s total to 56,018 cases. The Oregon Health Authority also reported six more deaths, pushing the state’s death toll to 759.

Idaho also has been setting records for new cases and hospitalizations, adding 1,331 new cases Friday.

On Friday, the governors of California, Oregon and Washington issued travel advisories Friday urging people entering or returning to their states to self-quarantine to slow the spread of the coronavirus as infections spike across the U.S.

The advisories stopped short of stricter rules imposed by other governors and instead said people should avoid non-essential out-of-state travel and quarantine for 14 days after arriving from another state or country.