Coronavirus US death toll rises to 37 with 4 more fatalities in Washington

At least 55,000 schoolchildren ordered to stay home in Seattle

Four more coronavirus deaths have been reported in Washington state, bringing the total here to 28, and the toll across the nation to 37.

After governor Jay Inslee announced a ban on sporting, social and religious events involving more than 250 people, and after the Seattle school district announced it was shutting for two weeks, it was revealed another four people had died.

Three of the new deaths were residents of the Life Care Centre in Kirkland, which has been borne the bulk of fatalities.

The people who died included two women aged in their 90s, a man in his 90s and a woman in her 60s.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Inslee announced new measures to try and slow the spread of the disease. Asked if he considered the measures being announced as “draconian”, he replied: “I don’t think it’s draconian to try and stop another 22 people losing their grandfather.”

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The measures announced by Mr Inslee for King, Pierce and Snohomish counties located in and around Seattle, are the most stringent yet declared by non-federal authorities.

Jeff Duchin, the health officer for Seattle and King County, said officials were doing what they could to try and limit the spread of the virus, though he admitted there were limitations.

“We don’t take the decisions lightly. We’re facing an unprecedented health emergency,” he said.

“We expect a large scale outbreak in weeks and this will be a very difficult time. It’s similar to what you might think of as an infectious disease equivalent of a major earthquake that’s going to shake us for weeks and weeks.”

Later, the Seattle Public Schools said they would shut for at least two weeks, impacting 55,000 pupils.

“We have been following the guidance of Public Health Seattle and King County and implementing preventive and responsive strategies, but in light of governor Inslee’s request that all citizens practice measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, it is now time for the district to act swiftly,” a letter to families read.

The announcement comes just days after district officials stated that schools would not close in part to maintain services such as free meals to low-income children.

At his press conference, Mr Inslee had told schools to make contingency plans in case they needed to close for “weeks or months”.