FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 12, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications, tjumper@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152

Megan Snow, Media and Communications, msnow@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5051

City of Tacoma Proclaims State of Emergency in Response to COVID-19

Tacoma City Manager Elizabeth Pauli and Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards proclaimed a state of emergency in response to COVID-19 at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2020 in accordance with the Tacoma Municipal Code Chapter 1.10. The proclamation of emergency will be confirmed by the City Council at the earliest practicable time.

The proclamation of emergency will allow the City to waive certain contracting and budget requirements, authorize staff to implement emergency purchasing requirements and to take other steps in response to the emergency.

The World Health Organization announced earlier this week that the COVID-19 outbreak is now considered a pandemic. The Washington State Department of Health has confirmed the localized person-to-person spread of COVID-19 in Washington State, significantly increasing the risk of exposure and infection to Washington State residents and creating an extreme public health risk.

“The health and safety of our community continues to a priority as we navigate this emergency with our partners in responding to COVID-19,” Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards said. “We are continuing to coordinate with Tacoma Pierce County Health Department to take the appropriate measures to protect the public and slow the spread of the virus.”

COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019) is a virus strain that has only spread in people since December 2019. Health experts are concerned because little is known about this new virus and it has the potential to cause severe illness and pneumonia in some people.

While conservative estimates are that 80 percent of people who contract COVID-19 will recover on their own at home, it can have more severe health complications for people over the age of 60, people with underlying health conditions and pregnant women.





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