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Gov. Jay Inslee spoke directly to Washingtonians Tuesday evening to lay out his vision for the eventual safe return to public life amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Inslee said it is unlikely many restrictions under the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order will be modified before May 4. Rather, this plan is intended to be a framework for the loosening of restrictions contingent on a steady decrease of the spread of COVID-19.
“It will look more like the turning of the dial than the flip of a switch,” Inslee said in the address. “We’re going to take steps and then monitor to see whether they work or if we must continue to adapt.
Depending on health projections for the spread of the virus, some distancing restrictions may be in place for weeks or months to come.
“In the coming days, we will receive additional health modeling projecting the course of this virus,” Inslee said. “We hope it will give us cause to begin lifting certain restrictions.”
The return to public life will occur in measured steps. It will be guided by science and informed by our public health needs, our ability to mitigate impacts, and the response of Washington communities.
The governor said his plan has three overriding goals:
Protect the health and safety of Washingtonians
The recovery plan begins with widely available testing for individuals who may have contracted COVID-19, tracing for those who have come into close contact with COVID-19 positive individuals, and isolation or quarantine for individuals who could transmit the virus.
However, a variety of barriers to accessing the necessary supplies have prevented Washington from processing more than 4,000 tests a day. For the contact-tracing plan to work, the state needs to be processing between 20,000 and 30,000 tests a day. Earlier Tuesday, the governor sent a letter to the vice president asking the White House to create a national testing system.
Facilitate a safe start and transition to economic recovery
Economic recovery depends on a healthy workforce. When aspects of the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order are lifted, the state will provide guidelines so businesses can operate safely. Even after the order is lifted, workplaces will continue to look and operate differently until a COVID-19 vaccine is available. Continued physical distancing, teleworking and other measures will continue to be necessary to keep workers and customers safe.
Support all people and communities
The COVID-19 outbreak has affected every Washingtonian in different ways. Many in the state will need some kind of assistance to recover. A safe return to public life will require increased social and emotional supports, food and housing security, educational and child care support, internet infrastructure and equitable access to services.
“We need to reckon with the reality that disparities in our communities mean not every family can recovery as quickly as others. Disparities in access have already been exposed in ways not seen in modern times,” Inslee said.
The plan also emphasizes the necessity that community leaders from across the state to work together to provide guidance for a safe and sustainable recovery for all Washingtonians. The governor will appoint three leadership groups to advise on public health, economic recovery and social supports.
“We are looking forward to making advances against this virus,” Inslee said. “Only science, data and informed reasoning can lift us out of this crisis.”
Watch the governor’s address here.
Policy brief: “Washington’s Recovery Plan”
It’s scary to think that “workplaces will continue to look and operate differently until a COVID-19 vaccine is available.”
This is putting a lot of trust in a man-made vaccine to stop mother nature. Recent history has shown measels and mumps outbreaks still occur in vaccinated populations. People who get the flu shot still get sick. And the last vaccine rushed to market (HPV) is more likely to kill you than the disease it is supposed to guard against.
The timing of a documentary series is uncanny, with “The Truth About Vaccines 2020” available free online at https://go.thetruthaboutvaccines.com this evening. The series offers information, not a political agenda.
I watched Inslee and it was painful. He had a lot to say about nothing. “Instead of turning on a light switch we will be slowly turning a dial?” Nothing was said when or what services or businesses will be open. What parts of the state will do what? I knew nothing more than the last time he spoke.
I believe that our governor has generally done a pretty good job dealing with the epidemic, but about all that I learned from him last night is that he really likes to say Washingtonians. Let’s see what he has to say today at 2:30.
One big question I have is when Inslee decided to take down the temporary hospital in downtown Seattle what was the thinking that shows it was a good idea to get rid of that capacity at that time and yet weeks later he is still only at the looking at re-opening hospitals to elective surgeries phase?
Gov. Inslee probably likes to say “Washingtonians” because he is the Governor of Washington. Wouldn’t make much sense to talk about Oregonians would it? Except maybe in the context or working with them to open up the regional economy as soon as possible.
I’m all for anyone wanting to protest something to go out and protest it. I’m also all for people who don’t want to get vaccinated for anything not to get vaccinated. That is freedom which we all should believe in.
The problem here is you can walk around waving the flag, brandishing guns and honking the horn and that won’t rid you of the virus any quicker or make going to work any safer. Do you really think Inslee wants to keep the economy shut down any longer than necessary? What would he get out of that? Do you really think Mitch McConnell is going to allow the federal government to give the states and cities any relief funds? That’s the only advantage I can see of purposely prolonging the agony. Pretty sure Inslee doesn’t have much faith in McConnell doing that.
Likewise just because you don’t believe in vaccines for you, doesn’t make it wise or advantageous for me to not get vaccinated when one becomes available. I’m all for you not having to be vaccinated, if that’s how you feel about it. I’m all for me getting vaccinated a.s.a.p. because I know vaccination works.
I grew up in the Midwest in the 50’s where we lived in total fear of Polio every summer which was a killer and crippler of children and young adults. The school took us to see the outside of the Polio Ward at Lincoln General and made us look at an empty iron lung so we would be careful to wash our hands and be clean. They closed down the municipal pool if any recent cases broke out in town. We saw people living in the iron lungs thru the window of the ward. When the Saulk vaccine was approved for testing, my parents enrolled me in the first experimental group to get it in 1954. I still have the little card that calls me a “Polio Pioneer.” When it was declared successful in 1955, it was like a giant cloud lifted as the disease almost immediately become extremely rare. Yes vaccines don’t protect everyone, but they generally protect the majority which is the point and the most you can hope for.
As to A.A.’s point above, it’s pretty simple. The elective surgeries and other more common medical procedures require large quantities of PPE for the medical personnel. The point where that is readily available is the point where they can get most safely back to business. To protect against the virus in the regular doctor/surgical settings they will have to burn thru large quantities of PPE, which would be another disaster if the virus takes off again; starting in the regular hospital setting which is likely to happen if they don’t have adequate supplies of PPE.
CJW: I guess that we were overdue for a dose of your sarcasm. How about “the people of our state”, “our people”, etc.
Ron. I would say your comment is every bit as sarcastic as mine. What’s your point? Is using the term Washingtonians a lot a bad thing or something? Why not just say ” I didn’t learn anything new.” It’s like you grudgingly complement him and just have to get a subtle little slam in there.
I have nothing at all against the term Washingtonians; I simply dislike excessive repetition.
Clinton, why do you need larger numbers of PPE for elective surgeries than you did say a year ago? If you are going to operate on positive tested people sure, but why not open to people that test negative or at least people that tests show have already gone through Covid? The state could easily go back to not accepting cases if the virus hits another wave and we need to restrict the PPE to Covid cases.
But assuming that IS the case why can someone already have some proceedures that would be just as infectious but not others? Its like why is it more unhealthy to have someone build an office building for a comercial business than for the government? Either things should be too unhealthy to do or not, government should not cherry pick amoungst equivilant activities.
Anthony. I think you have some great points here actually. A year ago we didn’t have competition for PPE. The virus causing a world wide shortage changed that. Other than that I think you are on the right track here. They just reported that the Feds have shipped a bunch of PPE to Washington State. Hopefully that will force the issue toward your viewpoint on opening up elective medication.
Good thoughts Darrol. I’m pretty sure I had the virus, the more I read about it and the information on it grows. I won’t go back to business as usual until I can get both an antibody test and a vaccine. I might even be a carrier which is why I will wear the gloves and mask indefinitely. I won’t be going to any closed businesses I don’t have to even if they reopen tomorrow. The protests and ideological aspects of this are pretty
much a moot point to me. The sad thing is the economics of the virus make a bad recession all but inevitable. I certainly understand and sympathize with the people who are angry.
Always amazed by these discussions. Some go in the ditch right off the bat and some take a few days. What is the problem we are trying to solve?
1. Constitutional Freedoms?
2. Minimize economic impact?
3. Minimized deaths, if so over what time period? 6 months, 1 yr. or 2-3 years?(Spanish Flu 1918)
4. Other?
I think the following is basically true. CV19 kills mostly people 60+ and others who are younger but have other medical issues. By not coming in contact with anyone for 14 days you are probably not infected. You can be be infected and infect others while showing no symptoms. Once infected and surviving you may not be able to infect others. (Do not know this fully yet but that is the operating assumption.) Infected people reduce the chance of infecting others. Non infected people can reduce their risk of infection by not touching anything, filtering the air they breath with a medical grade protection devise.
Our elected leader, city, county, state chose option 3 above. After time passes option 2 and 1 come to the table.
Given that direction those of us with born 1960 or sooner need to find a way to reduce the chances of death from the CV. Cure may come about but not probable in short run, 90 days or less, and then not likely to be 100% effective. Vaccine, months away and again not likely to be any more effective than flu vaccine.
The “freedom” people have the freedom to be infected and not tell anyone. They also have the freedom if a survivor to keep that secret too. So what is a high risk person to do? Stay away from everyone not wearing a mask. Stay 6 ft or upwind from those wearing a mask. Find a medical device to purify the air one breaths and do not touch anything. Ask every on you meet “are you a survivor? ”
Rather than all the same stuff that often show up in these forums it would be helpful if we offered helpful to offer ideas and suggestions. That’s the best we can do now that we have made the decision to flatten the curve and try to save some lives.
I got a letter from the UW hospital today saying how they are safe and what they are doing to make sure the virus is at a minimum. They also stated that have enough PPE’s because they have a 3-D printer and have been making gowns and masks. very interesting.
I see your point now, Ron, and well taken sir. My bad.
I don’t like excessive repetition either, which is why I generally time my health walks to coincide with the now daily briefing from the White House. Not much of use being said there, either, I’m afraid. The truth is, no one really knows exactly the right way to handle this, because none of has ever done it before. I don’t envy any of our elected officials right now.