Could Gov. Inslee’s stay home order go through summer? We need to know | Editorial

The coronavirus has ruined plans, upended lives and devastated dreams, but in general people seem to understand the necessity of Washington Gov. Jay Inlsee’s stay-at-home order.

The question now is, “How long must it continue?”

This week Heather Hill, the communicable disease program supervisor for the Benton Franklin Health District, said, “The coronavirus is not going away in the next few weeks or, for that matter, the next few months. We need to understand this is likely to be our new norm.”

That is a sobering prediction.

Initially, Inslee set his “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order for two weeks, and later extended it to May 4. From Hill’s comment, we have to wonder if it will be extended even more.

We know that the longer people practice social distancing, the better. But at what point does life return to normal? Or will it at all?

What set of indicators is Inlsee looking for before he decides to lift social distancing restrictions?

If the governor has even an inkling of an exit strategy from his social distancing plan, he should let people know.

Couples are wondering if their June weddings should be canceled. Families looking forward to summer vacations want to know if they will still be able to take their trips.

Those planning class reunions and anniversary celebrations would rather find out sooner than later if their parties will be a go.

Compared to protecting public health, we realize these kinds of social activities are not important. Yet weddings and other family celebrations are among the most memorable events in people’s lives. Their significance stays in people hearts, and that should not be easily dismissed.

When Inslee announced this week that schools would not reopen this school year, we ached for the high school seniors who had looked forward to their proms, band concerts, school musicals and one more chance to play on their sports teams.

These kids have been cheated and it hurts.

Inslee said there might still be a way for graduating seniors to return to school for a few days to see each other and celebrate their accomplishment. Whether they will get a commencement ceremony is up in the air.

In addition to social distancing, the uncertainty is also causing stress.

Small business owners who are barely making it are going to have a tough time the longer they have to stay shut down. People who are out of work and living on their savings — or unemployment checks — are counting the days when they can return to their jobs.

There are signs that social distancing is working, and that’s encouraging. Inslee recently sent 400 respirators to other states because indications are that Washington hospitals were stocked well enough.

He also determined that the state did not need the Department of Defense field hospital set up at Century Link Field Event Center in Seattle.

But he also closed schools and re-emphasized that social distancing must continue if the state is going to stem the spread of the coronavirus. We don’t want to see cases of the COVID-19 respiratory illness surge after we see a decline.

Inslee has done a good job of doing what needed to be done to get the state through this crisis so far, but many of his decisions have come abruptly. Under the circumstances, that’s to be expected.

But now people are anxious to know what’s ahead. If, like Hill, Inslee sees the coronavirus lasting several months, the sooner he tells us the better. People need to know what they are in for.

This story was originally published April 10, 2020 at 12:33 PM.