Gov. Jay Inslee and King County Executive Dow Constantine held a press conference in Seattle on Monday, Mar. 16, 2020 to discuss the expanding state and local response to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

To limit the spread of this public health crisis, Constantine and Health Officer Jeff Duchin announced a new Local Health Order that directed public health actions effective Monday, March 16:

    • All events with more than 50 people are prohibited until further notice
    • All events with fewer than 50 people are discouraged and prohibited unless organizers observe COVID-19 prevention measures.
    • All bars, dance clubs, fitness and health clubs, movie theaters, nightclubs, and other social and recreational establishments will be closed until at least March 31.
    • All restaurants and food service establishments cannot provide dining room service. They may remain open for drive-through, takeout and delivery.
    • All other retail – including banks, grocery stores, hardware stores and pharmacies – should and may remain open, provided they observe COVID-19 prevention measures.
    • Under the order, events include: community, civic, public, leisure, or sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; conventions; fundraisers; and similar activities.

“If we are living a normal life, we are not doing our jobs as Washingtonians,” Inslee said. “We cannot do that anymore. We need to make changes, regardless of size. All of us need to do more. We must limit the number of people we come in contact with. This is the new normal.”

VIDEO
Here’s the full, raw video of the press conference:

Founder/Publisher/Editor. Three-time National Emmy Award winning Writer (“Bill Nye the Science Guy”), Director, Producer, Journalist and more...