Large gatherings banned in Washington state’s Puget Sound region to stem coronavirus
Public gatherings and events of more than 250 people will be banned in Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties as the state tries to slow the spread of coronavirus, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Wednesday.
The prohibition will run through March and is likely to be extended, possibly for months. It also could be extended to other counties depending on the spread of the virus.
“The three counties impacted have been chosen because they are experiencing significant community transmission, significant outbreaks and they are large population centers,” said Inslee, adding that the state can enforce the ban but expects that everyone will comply.
The governor also said he is asking all school districts “to immediately begin contingency planning for potential school closures in the next several days.” Inslee said he is speaking with the superintendents in the three counties Wednesday afternoon.
“The good news is our children are relatively free of disease associated with this, but the best science tells us they still have the capability to transmitting the disease to other people they come into contact with,” Inslee said.
Inslee’s announcement came a day after he said in seven or eight weeks the number of people infected with the virus in Washington could reach 64,000 with 600 to 1,900 deaths in one week if “we don’t somehow slow down this epidemic.”
The use of the state’s emergency powers will affect “social, recreational, spiritual” and other events including major sports events, concerts, festivals, conventions, religious services, and fundraisers. It does not affect retail businesses, although the governor said he is asking employers to maximize telecommuting options for employees and look at ways to foster “social distancing” -- keeping customers and workers at least six feet from each other.
“I have an understanding, talking to the scientific community, that this is not just your ordinary flu. This is a virus that the experts tell us [is] at least ten times more potentially fatal than the flu and this demands a response consistent with the nature of the threat.”
Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier said he is “increasingly concerned” about senior citizens, young women who are pregnant and those with compromised immune systems.
“We need to be taking significant actions to protect them because we also know that they are very vulnerable disease. That is why I am supporting these actions today in Pierce County.
“At the same time, we know that there’s going to be consequences and in particular, it is the season when many of our very important nonprofit community are holding their annual fundraisers,” Dammeier said, adding that the Emergency Food Network had planned to hold its annual breakfast fundraiser Thursday morning. The group disributes food to help the needy throughout the country, he said.
Dammeier urged Pierce County residents and others in the Puget Sound region to support those “critical nonprofits at this time.”
The governor’s announcement potentially will impact many religious services, but many of the large churches and faith communities have been planning if they can’t gather for services, Dammeier said. Some churches, including his own, will livestream their services, he added.
“At a time when church and faith is probably very, very important as our communities are confronting uncertainty, some fear, some adversity, that connection to each other that faith communities offer is really going to be important,” he said.
Dammeier was joined by Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards, who did not speak at the press conference and was ushered along with others out of the room immediately after it ended.
Woodards said in a statement: “Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department issued guidance on Monday that people age 60 and older, people with underlying health conditions and pregnant women should take extra measures to distance themselves from other people and stay at home.
“I encourage those who are healthy and are not from vulnerable populations to find ways to support our community during this time, by engaging in volunteering at food banks and non-profits and investing their dollars in our local business community.”
Asked if it was possible that Washington would have to shut down cities like what happened in China, Inslee said the emergency order to prohibit public gatherings and events of more than 250 is designed to avoid that option.
“Can you eliminate those things from possibly occurring? Of course not, we can’t,” he said.
On March 2, Inslee said Washington residents should think about avoiding large events and assemblies because of the coronavirus outbreak.
“We are not making a request formally right now for events to be canceled, but people should be prepared for that possibility,” Inslee said then at a press conference. “As this situation develops, what people are likely to see is local officials, county health, and school districts responding to this. I also have emergency authority in this regard.”
A day after Inslee spoke, the death toll from coronavirus reached nine in Washington. On Feb. 29, the governor declared a state of emergency as Public Health-Seattle & King County announced an individual died from COVID-19, the first fatality in the United States.
As of Wednesday afternoon, there were 366 cases in 12 counties including 17 in Pierce County and one each in Whatcom and Thurston counties. The death toll has reached 29, according to the state Department of Health.
Inslee used his emergency powers earlier this week to announce that people will not be allowed to visit the resident of a nursing home or assisted living facility unless that visitor is an adult, the resident has not already had a visitor that day and the visit takes place in the resident’s room.
Jeff Duchin, health officer for Public Health — Seattle and King County, said he anticipates a large-scale COVID-19 outbreak in weeks.
“This will be a very difficult time, similar to what you might think of as an infectious disease equivalent of a major earthquake that will shake us for weeks and weeks,” he said.
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 10:29 AM with the headline "Large gatherings banned in Washington state’s Puget Sound region to stem coronavirus."
