Washington State Declares Emergency to Prepare for Possible ‘Worldwide Pandemic’

Dr. Frank Riedo, Medical Director of Infection Control at EvergreenHealth Hospital speaks about the first patient death from novel coronavirus in the United States during a news conference in Seattle, W.A., on Feb. 29, 2020. Ryan Henriksen/Reuters

Washington state governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency to “prepare for what could likely be a worldwide pandemic,” hours after the nation announced the first victim of the deadly coronavirus.

“This is a time to take common-sense, proactive measures to ensure the health and safety of those who live in Washington state,” Inslee said in a Feb. 29 statement.