Inslee to hold press conference Sunday on coronavirus restrictions as cases surge across Washington

Editor's note: Read about the governor's latest restrictions on social gatherings, indoor dining and more, here.

Gov. Jay Inslee will hold a press conference Sunday morning to announce new restrictions for Washington state to help curb the surge of coronavirus cases across the state.

According to the governor's office, Inslee will hold the press conference at 11 a.m. It will be livestreamed on TVW here.

Specifics on what restrictions will be put in place were not made available Saturday, but it's believed the restrictions will include indoor gatherings at restaurants and businesses.

The Seattle Times first reported Saturday that restrictions would last for four weeks and limit retailers, such as grocery and convenience stores, as well as nail salons, to 25% of occupancy. Gyms, bowling alleys, museums, movie theaters and aquariums would be required to close.

"Taken together, the rules would represent some of the tightest constraints placed on everyday activities in Washington since Inslee in March issued his original emergency stay-at-home order as the pandemic exploded across the state," the Seattle Times reported Saturday.

During a public address Thursday evening, Inslee warned against social gatherings. He emphasized, people need to reconsider their Thanksgiving and holiday travel plans. Instead of traditional holidays, people should limit gatherings to just members of their households and opt for virtual options.

"We are in as dangerous a position today as we were in March," Inslee said during the brief address Thursday. "We're in a period of what's called exponential growth and every single day matters. We cannot wait until our hospital's halls are lined with gurneys waiting for rooms before we take decisive action."

On Friday, Inslee issued a travel advisory recommending that anyone traveling to Washington or returning home quarantine for 14 days to slow the spread of the virus. Inslee joined with the governors in Oregon and California in issuing the advisory for nonessential travel.

The recommendations come as coronavirus cases are surging across Washington and much of the country, reaching new peaks.

Since September, coronavirus cases have been rising across the Washington. Over the past two weeks, there has been an accelerate growth in cases. Hospitalizations have also been rising and health officials are worried if this trend continues, the state's hospital systems could become overwhelmed.

Earlier this week, public health officials issued a dire warning to people across the state, pleading with residents to change their behaviors to slow the spread of the virus. If people don't take action now, the state could need to put more restrictions back into place, health officials said.

"We cannot give up. We all need to do our part to flatten the curve once again," Washington State Health Officer Kathy Lofy said during a news briefing Tuesday.

"We're at the point that if we cannot change the current trajectory of disease by changing our behaviors, we'll need to take actions that will hurt our economy and no one wants to do that again."

Health officials have also been urging people not to hold large Thanksgiving gatherings this year, but to instead celebrate with members of their household or opt for virtual options.

"We can get COVID from people we know, love and trust who may not yet know they have it or be asymptomatic," Fehrenbach said. "We know that folks are done with COVID and looking forward to the holidays but COVID isn't yet done with us and it doesn't take holidays.