Clair Bunker shares how Nourish Pierce County has been banding together with organization, the National Guard, and resident volunteers to keep the pantries and fridges of homes in Pierce County stocked with nutritious food during uncertain times, and invites all healthy individuals to volunteer to end food scarcity.

Interview begins at 17:34.

• On Thursday, Governor Inslee announced modifications to the state’s phased economic reopening plans:
  • Starting tomorrow, July 25th, face coverings will be required across the state in all common spaces, such as elevators, hallways and shared spaces in apartment buildings, university housing and hotels, as well as communal living facilities such as nursing homes.
  • Starting July 30th, indoor restaurant dining service will be limited to a maximum of 5 people per table who must be from the same household
  • Table occupancy at restaurants in Phase 3 counties is reduced from 75% to 50%.
  • Outdoor dining and take-away remains available for small parties from different households
  • Restaurants must also close gaming and social areas, such as pool tables, dart boards and video games.
  • Bars will be closed for indoor service, but can continue outdoor service.
  • Alcohol service inside of restaurants must end by 10 p.m.
  • Also starting July 30th, the number of individuals allowed to use fitness centers and other physical health venues at a given time will also be reduced.
  • In Phase 2, only five individuals — not including staff — will be allowed for indoor fitness services at a time.
  • This includes gyms, fitness studios, and indoor pools, ice rinks, volleyball courts, and tennis facilities.
  • Fitness center occupancy in Phase 3 will be reduced to 25%, and all group fitness classes are limited to no more than 10, not including the instructors.
  • Indoor family entertainment and recreation centers — like mini golf, bowling alleys, and arcades — are prohibited from opening, as well as indoor card rooms.
• The governor has extended a moratorium on residential evictions through October 15. The full memo is available at governor.wa.gov and at coronavirus.wa.gov in the “news” sections
  • Federal funds are in the process of being distributed to localities across the state, earmarked for rental assistance and shelter operations

• Washington State University announced that it will offer full remote classes for the entire Fall 2020 semester for all Pullman-based undergraduates, with extremely limited exceptions for in-person instruction.
  • Graduate student plans are slated to be announced August 1st
  • University-owned residence halls will open Aug. 15 for students who have a demonstrated institutional need and are approved to live on campus.
  • Cougar Health Services will continue to provide medical and mental health care for WSU Pullman students.
• The University of Washington will determine by August 7th if all undergraduate courses will be conducted remotely, but as of now plans to teach as few as 10% of its classes in person
• Seattle University will be primarily virtual, with some in-person and hybrid instruction for performance-based, clinical and laboratory courses and for students living on campus, but will be adjusting its fall quarter calendar to run from September 9th to November 24th.
• Eastern Washington University will also teach 100% of undergraduate courses online.

• The WNBA will begin an abbreviated season starting tomorrow, after players and staff have isolated in Florida since July 6th with no new COVID-19 cases.
  • The Seattle Storm will tip off against the NY Liberty at 9am Pacific on Saturday.
• The Collegiate Pac-12 conference is continuing with plans for a 10-game conference-only schedule to begin in mid-September.
• The Mariners are playing their first game of the abbreviated MLB season tonight in Houston against the Astros.

• The Pierce County Health Department issued a recommendation yesterday for schools in the county to begin the school year with remote learning due to the current trends in COVID-19 incidence.
  • Subsequently, the following Pierce County school districts announced they will start with full-time distance learning: Bethel, Eatonville, Franklin Pierce, Orting, Puyallup, Steilacoom, Tacoma, and White River.
  • The Tacoma school board was slated to approve a hybrid model but instead the Superintendent declared that the district will begin school in full remote learning, unless health guidance changes over the next six weeks
• The Health Department director advises that in order to resume in-person schooling as soon as possible, everyone should stay close to home, wear masks, limit interactions to a small circle of friends and family, stay 6 feet from others, get tested for COVID19 if you are experiencing symptoms or are part of a heavily impacted ethnic, racial, or social group, keep hands hashed, and prioritize that any small gatherings take place outside where fresh air circulates.
• The County is hiring mobile test site workers at $18/hr.
  • Interested applicants should go to governmentjobs.com and search for Pierce County.
• The Pierce County recreation department is offering a virtual emergency preparedness summer camp for kids ages 6-12 this August.
  • Go to piercecountywa.gov and look in the recreation section or call (253)798-4753 to sign up your child.
• Workers with the U.S. Census Bureau have started a door-knocking soft launch in Tacoma and Pierce County for residents who have not responded to the 2020 national census.
  • Workers will be wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and collecting data on handheld electronic devices; they will not be entering any homes.
  • Individuals can fill out their census online at 2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020.

• Tacoma Metro Parks will be starting outdoor dance fitness classes in August, held at various parks and centers across the city.
• Visit MetroParksTacoma.org and search for events.