OLYMPIA – The House moved swiftly and unanimously Tuesday to approve $100 million from the state’s reserves to fight the coronavirus outbreak in Washington that has claimed nine lives.

Just hours after receiving a briefing from state Health Secretary John Weisman, the House passed an emergency appropriation from the state Rainy Day Fund, sending it to the Senate on a 96-0 vote. The Senate is expected to take it up Wednesday.

“At this point, we think $100 million is what we need,” said House Health Care and Wellness Committee Chairwoman Eileen Cody, D-West Seattle.

The legislation has provisions that the state first use available federal money and that any of the $100 million not used be returned to the reserve account. The state’s Office of Financial Management must also report to legislative committees on how the money is used.

Rep. Joe Schmick of Colfax, the top Republican on the health care committee, said having the money available to fight the coronavirus was “a prudent thing to do.”

The money can be used for state and local health agencies, as well as the Department of Social and Health Services.

House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, said later that the state faces an emergent and urgent situation with the nation’s first known death from coronavirus, along with subsequent deaths that had hit nine by the time the chamber voted.

“This is not something you short-change money on,” Jinkins told reporters in a briefing. “We’re actually hoping we only have to use a small portion of it.”