More from Inslee’s COVID-19 press conference

— by Steve Bernheim, Orcas Issues Reporter —

Washington Governor Jay Inslee said [Monday] his priority is “to slow the speed of this dangerous virus” known as COVID-19, which has killed six in King and Snohomish counties where 18 total cases have been reported. No cases are yet reported elsewhere in Washington State.

Thanking emergency first responders and health care workers, Inslee said, we “are not going to let fear and anxiety drive us over the cliff.” Stressing reliance on medical experts and “understanding of natural science … rather than unnatural anxiety, we will both live our lives and get on top of this disease as soon as humanly possible.”

Inslee said science says the virus has been spreading undetected, possibly for weeks, and that more cases will be appearing. State Health Secretary John Wiesman added that “most people with COVID -19 have mild illness, a smaller portion of people will have severe illness, and that’s why we want to decrease the spread as much as we can.”

Inslee and health officials stress that the way to defeat this virus is to wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds (or use 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer), avoid shaking hands and wiping your own eyes, nose, and mouth with your unwashed fingers, cover coughs and throw away tissues, sanitize frequently touched surfaces, and stay home and do not go to work if you have COVID-19 symptoms such as fever or respiratory issues.

Secretary Wiesman emphasized, “We really mean it: stay at home and away from others if you’re sick.”

People over 60 and those with fragile health conditions were further advised to avoid crowded settings whenever possible.

Inslee said he has stopped shaking hands and stayed home sick last Wednesday, saying it was “patriotic” to not go to work. Inslee encouraged people not to put others at risk and not to accept rumors and unsubstantiated reports about the spread of the disease, but to consult doh.wa.gov or other reliable sources for accurate and updated information, which can change daily.

Officials so far are not canceling large gatherings in order to try to stop the disease from spreading. Such orders, known as “social distancing,” can be effective in some cases, but individual decisions and choices such as handwashing, wiping eyes and nose, and covering coughs remain crucial to slow the spread of the virus. Inslee admitted, however, that he has emergency authority to order some closures, and that with the expected
appearance of more cases, “people should be prepared for events being cancelled.”

So far, no local health department has closed schools, but one school has been temporarily closed and one school district has been closed for one day for disinfection.

State School Superintendent Chris Reykdal explained that simply sending students home isn’t necessarily going to help stop spread of the virus if students gather elsewhere outside of school such as “a mall or a movie theatre” without taking standard precautions.

Weisman suggested people stockpile supplies to avoid the need for multiple shopping trips and provide help to neighbors when needed.

Inslee said Washington State is now able to test up to 100 people a day in local facilities in Shoreline and more tests are becoming available at the University of Washington, though testing is not recommended unless patients are suspected of being already infected with COVID 19. State officials and representatives are working to appropriate up to $100 million for state and local expenses related to the virus outbreak, including funding to pay for “isolation” facilities provided by either local, state, or federal and
military authorities where infected persons who cannot be adequately cared for at home can be “isolated” for treatment and monitoring with lower risk of infecting others.

Science still has not provided answers to basic questions such as how long patients remain infected with the disease, how long they require treatment, or how long those infected can infect others. Those with questions about symptoms or particular risks can call the COVID hotline at 800-525-0127, then press #.

Inslee’s comments can be viewed on YouTube.