70 Washington coronavirus cases; Inslee announces testing-cost relief

Inslee addressed the outbreak at a Thursday press conference.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday (March 5) at a press conference that state officials can now order private insurers to waive coronavirus testing prices if someone getting tested does not have their own medical insurance.

This is a result of Inslee’s issuance of a state emergency declaration.

“This is a period of substantial anxiety in our state,” Inslee said at the press conference. “It’s real. It’s significant. And we need to recognize it.”

As of 11 a.m. March 5, Department of Health has confirmed 70 confirmed positive cases in Washington; 51 are in King County, 18 are in Snohomish County and one is in Grant County. There have been 10 deaths — nine were in King County and one was in Snohomish County.