Please be sure to refer to the original documents for questions or concerns relating to a specific situation.
“The less time we spend in public, the more lives we will save.”
Governor Jay Inslee
Summary
- How Long? 3/25/20 – 4/5/20
- Unless extended
- You can still safely go outside as long as you remain at least six feet from each other.
- Essential businesses can remain open if they follow specific sanitation and social distancing policies outlined by the CDC and WA public health.
- Gatherings are banned
- regardless of the number of people, public and private
What Does This Mean For Individuals?
You can only leave your home to do one of two things:
- Essential activities
- Obtaining necessary supplies and services
- for family or household members and pets
- such as groceries, food and supplies for household consumption and use
- supplies and equipment needed to work from home
- products necessary to maintain safety, sanitation and essential maintenance of the home or residence
- Engaging in activities essential for the health and safety
- of family, household members and pets
- seeking medical or behavioral health or emergency services
- obtaining medical supplies or medication
- Caring for someone else
- a family member, friend, or pet in another household or residence
- to transport a family member, friend or their pet for essential health and safety activities
- to obtain necessary supplies and services
- Engaging in outdoor exercise activities
- walking, hiking, running or biking
- ONLY IF appropriate SOCIAL DISTANCING practices are used
- Obtaining necessary supplies and services
- Employment in essential business services
- Healthcare / Public Health sector
- Emergency Services sector (Law Enforcement, Public Safety and First Responders, Public Works)
- Food & Agriculture
- Energy (Electricity, Petroleum, Natural and Propane Gas)
- Water & Wastewater
- Transportation & Logistics
- Communications & Information Technology
- Critical Manufacturing
- Hazardous Materials
- Financial Services
- For more details, see the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers list
- Doesn’t Apply If:
- If your home/residence becomes unsafe, you are permitted/urged to leave and stay at a safe alternate location (e.g. victims of domestic violence).
- Doesn’t Apply If:
- If you are an individual experiencing homelessness, but you are urged to obtain shelter, and governmental and other entities are strongly encouraged to do as much as they can to increase their capacity to help as many people as possible.
What Does This Mean for Gatherings?
Effective midnight on March 25, 2020 until midnight April 6, 2020 (unless extended beyond that date)
- No public and private gatherings
- Regardless of the number of people involved
- doesn’t apply to people who are part of a single household or residential living unit.
What Does This Mean for Businesses?
All non-essential businesses in shall cease operations by midnight March 25, 2020 except for performing basic minimum operations.
All essential businesses are prohibited from operating unless they establish and implement social distancing and sanitation measures established by the United States Department of Labor’s Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 and the Washington State Department of Health Workplace and Employer Resources & Recommendations.
The Optimistic Scientist 