Washington state governor Jay Inslee is introducing measures to help residents, businesses, renters and small business owners from the economic impact due to the coronavirus.
Inslee says the state has distributed $75-million of the legislature's $200-million allocation for statewide response.
Here are some of the measures the state is taking:
- Moratorium on evictions around the state.
- Asking the government to make a national disaster declaration so that more workers in Washington would have access to unemployment insurance.
- Calling on utility companies to help customers with rate assistance.
- Tax collections relief for small businesses.
The governor also urges residents to refrain from overstocking on supplies. Although Inslee says the supply chain remains strong.