Number of confirmed coronavirus cases jumps to 70 in Washington state; death toll at 11

According to Washington state Department of Health numbers released Thursday, the number of confirmed coronavirus COVID-19 cases jumped to 70 from Wednesday’s reported 39 cases. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention initially sent Washington testing kits that were defective, according to the CDC. New test kits were sent out, but it is unclear when. Bellingham Herald

 

Will you be paid if your boss tells you to stay home because of coronavirus?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending companies actively encourage workers to stay home if they are showing symptoms of coronavirus. But not all workers can telecommute; some jobs must be done in person. NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

 

What are companies’ legal obligations around coronavirus?

Not having adequate communicable-illness policies and response plans could an employer to a laundry list of human resource-related legal concerns. Here are eight steps companies can take to minimize employees’ risk of infection and their own legal risks. Harvard Business Review

 

Which foods should you stock up on in case of an emergency?

There are plenty of items that every home should be stocked up on, including ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables, certain types of non-perishable foods and a manual can opener. Fox News

 

Safety expert reportedly pressured to withdraw from panel after report critical of sponsor Amazon

An ergonomics safety expert and former policy advisor for Fed-OSHA reportedly faced pressure to withdraw from an American Bar Association conference panel shortly after she helped author a report critical of Amazon, a sponsor of the conference. The report said that more than three-quarters of the company’s warehouses have not received a recent visit from federal safety inspectors. Stamford Advocate

 

Appeals court rejects psych hospital’s challenge to Fed-OSHA fine

U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit last week agreed with the U.S. Department of Labor that a Pennsylvania psychiatric hospital violated its general duty to prevent workplace hazards by failing to adequately address patient violence. Reuters