Governor Inslee signs $200 million funding bill for state’s coronavirus response

OLYMPIA, Wash. — As the death toll from COVID-19 in Washington passes 50, Governor Inslee signed a measure drawing $200 million from the state’s emergency “rainy day” fund for the state’s coronavirus response.

Inslee said the funding bill “is really about protecting what we hold most dear, our lives and the lives of our loved ones.”

The measure has $175 million going to the public health system and the remainder to a dedicated unemployment fund for coronavirus impacts.

The bill has an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.