IN MOMENT.
ABOUT THE COVID 19
PANDEMIC. THIS IS A PANDEMIC
THAT THREATENS TO OVERWHELM
OUR SOCIETY WITHOUT DECISIVE
ACTION. WE'VE NOW CONFIRMED
THAT MORE THAN 2000
WASHINGTONIANS HAVE CONTRACTED
THE VIRUS. AND THERE ARE
LIKELY THOUSANDS MORE THAT
HAVE NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED.
19 HAS. TAKING MORE THAN 100
LIVES IN OUR STATE. AND THAT'S
A NUMBER THAT WILL CONTINUE TO
RISE UNFORTUNATELY. WE KNOW
OUR HEARTS AKE FOR ALL OF THE
WASHINGTONIANS AND THEIR
FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THIS
VIRUS. AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD,
WE CANNOT FORGET A THE LOSSES
THAT THOSE FAMILIES HAVE
SUFFERED. THIS IS A HUMAN
TRAGEDY. ON A SCALE WE CANNOT
YET PROJECT. SO IT'S TIME TO
HUNKER DOWN. IN ORDER TO WIN
THIS FIGHT. SO TONIGHT I AM
ISSUING A STAY HOME ORDER TO
FIGHT THIS VIRUS. THIS IS
WASHINGTON'S STAY HOME. STAY
HEALTHY ORDER. THIS INCLUDES A
BAN ON ALL GATHERINGS AND
CLOSURES OF MANY BUSINESSES.
UNLESS THOSE BUSINESSES ARE
CENTRAL TO THE HEALTHY
FUNCTIONING OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE ABLE TO LET EMPLOYEES
WORKING REMOTELY FROM HOME. IT
IS STILL SAFE TO GO OUTSIDE
USING SOCIAL DISTANCING OF 6
FEET. BUT REALLY ONLY FOR
ESSENTIAL PURPOSES. GROCERY
STORES. DOCTORS OFFICES AND
OTHER ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES
WILL REMAIN OPEN. IT'S ALSO
DOES NOT PROHIBIT PEOPLE FROM
MERELY GOING OUTSIDE TO ENJOY
A WALK. ON A SUNNY SPRING DAY.
SO LIFE WILL GO ON. BUT FOR
ALL OF US IN EVERY PART OF
WASHINGTON. IT HAS TO DO SO
WITH THIS IN MIND. STAY HOME.
STAY HEALTHY. LESS TIME SPENT
OUT IN PUBLIC. THE MORE LIVES
WE CAN SAY. THE MORE TIME WE
CAN BUY TO FIGHT THE WAVES OF
THIS FIRE IS COMING DOWN ON US
NOW. AND IN THE IMMEDIATE
FUTURE. I'D LIKE TO TALK WITH
YOU ABOUT THIS ORDER. AND WHAT
IT MEANS FOR YOU AND YOUR
LOVED ONES AND OUR
COMMUNITIES. THIS ORDER BILLS
ON OTHER UNPRECEDENTED STEPS
WE HAVE HAD TO TAKE TO PROTECT
WASHINGTONIANS ALREADY.
INCLUDING THE CLOSURE OF
SCHOOLS, RESTAURANTS.
ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AND OTHER
BUSINESSES WHERE PEOPLE
CONGREGATE. WE'VE BEEN
THOUGHTFUL AND DELIBERATE AND
MAKING THESE VERY TOUGH
CHOICES. I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR
ON THE NEED FOR WASHINGTONIANS
TO STAY HOME ALREADY. BUT I
HAVE HEARD FROM HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS, LOCAL OFFICIALS
AND OTHERS. THAT PEOPLE STILL
ARE PRACTICING THESE
PRECAUTIONS. AND THAT IS ONE
OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE TO
TAKE THESE STEPS. THESE
MEASURES ARE MORE STRINGENT
AND OUR GOAL IS THE SAME. TO
REDUCE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS,
PHYSICAL INTERACTIONS WHERE
THIS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VIRUS
CAN SPREAD. THIS WEAPON.
DISTANCING OURSELVES. IS THE
ONLY WEAPON AGAINST THIS
VIRUS. AND WE HAVE PROVEN THAT
IT CAN WORK. BUT ONLY IF WE
ACTUALLY USE IT. HERE'S WHAT
THIS ORDER WILL DO. EFFECTIVE
FOR A MINIMUM OF 2 WEEKS. IT
ESSENTIALLY REQUIRES EVERY
WASHINGTONIAN TO MINIMIZE
PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH OTHERS
UNLESS THEY'RE PURSUING SOME
ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES. LIKE
GROCERY SHOPPING GOING TO A
DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT FOR THE
PHARMACY. OR IF THEY WORK AT A
BUSINESS DEEMED ESSENTIAL TO
THE CONTINUE FUNCTIONING
DURING AN EMERGENCY. SO THIS
IS NOT MEAN YOU CAN'T GO
OUTSIDE. IF YOU FEEL LIKE
GOING FOR A WALK GARDENING
GOING FOR A BIKE RIDE. WE
CONSIDER THESE THINGS
ESSENTIAL ACTIVITY TO FOR
EVERYONE'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL
HEALTH. WE ALL JUST NEED TO
PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING. AT
LEAST 6 FEET TO PROTECT
YOURSELF AND OTHERS
EVERYWHERE. ALL THE TIME. THIS
ORDER WILL IMMEDIATELY BANNED
ALL GATHERINGS OF PEOPLE FOR
SOCIAL. SPIRITUAL AND
RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. THIS
INCLUDES EVENTS THAT AFFECT
THE OLD. AND THE YOUNG IN OUR
STATE. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE
PARTIES ON THE BEACH OR PLAY
PICKUP BASKETBALL. AT THE PARK
OR HAVE SLEEPOVERS. THESE ARE
NO LONGER ALLOWED FOR AT LEAST
A COUPLE WEEKS. THIS ALSO
APPLIES TO SOME OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT GATHERINGS IN
PEOPLE'S LIVES LIKE WEDDINGS
AND FUNERALS. FOR THE SAKE OF
ALL. EVEN THESE OCCASIONS HAVE
TO BE POSTPONED. SO 48 HOURS
FROM NOW THIS ORDER WILL CLOSE
MANY BUSINESSES IN OUR STATE.
EXCLUDING THOSE DEEMED
ESSENTIAL IN THESE TIMES OR
FOR BUSINESSES WHERE EMPLOYEES
CAN WORK. REMOTELY WITHOUT
COMING INTO CONTACT WITH
OTHERS PHYSICAL CONTACT THAT
IS. IF A NON ESSENTIAL
WORKPLACE CAN CLOSE NOW IT
SHOULD. SOME BUSINESSES ARE
ESSENTIAL. AND ARE NOT BEING
CLOSED BY THIS ORDER. WE'VE
CHOSEN THESE ESSENTIAL
BUSINESSES. BASED LARGELY ON
FEDERAL GUIDELINES. ESSENTIAL
BUSINESSES AND PERSONNEL NOT
LIMITED BY THIS ORDER. INCLUDE
THOSE THAT HELP US FIGHT THIS
OUTBREAK, INCLUDING. EMERGENCY
SERVICES HEALTH CARE
INDUSTRIES. CRITICAL
MANUFACTURING CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE. TRANSPORTATION
FINANCIAL SERVICES. A DEFENSE
INDUSTRIES AND CRITICAL LOCAL
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
INCLUDING COURTS. AND THE
MEDIA WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE
AS WELL. THE JUST BEEN
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO KEEP
ALL OF US INFORMED ABOUT THIS
VIRUS. OF COURSE WE CARE ABOUT
ALL EMPLOYEES. SO ANY
ESSENTIAL BUSINESS OR ENTITY
ALLOWED TO OPERATE UNDER THIS
ORDER. MUST IMPLEMENT RULES
THAT HELP FACILITATE SOCIAL
DISTANCING OF AT LEAST 6 FEET.
AND I SHOULD ALSO SAY TOUR
MANY STRUGGLING RESTAURANTS.
THIS ORDER DOES NOT STOP YOU
FROM PROVIDING TO GO AND
DELIVERY SERVICE. AS
RESTAURANTS ARE CURRENTLY
DOING. BUT HE WASHINGTON'S.
SOVEREIGN TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
AROUND OUR STATE HAVE ALREADY
IMPLEMENTED SIMILAR MEASURES.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEPS.
THEY'VE BEEN EXCEPTIONAL
PARTNERS IN THIS EFFORT. NOW
WE EXPECT EVERYONE IN OUR
STATE TO COMPLY WITH THESE
ORDERS VOLUNTARILY. FOR SIMPLE
FACT IT'S BECAUSE EVERYONE
KNOWS THAT ALL OF OUR LOVED
ONES ARE AT RISK HERE. MAKE NO
MISTAKE THIS ORDER IS
ENFORCEABLE BY LAW AND CAN BE
ENFORCED. AND WE KNOW THAT TO
BE SOCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE IN
THESE TIMES IS TO RISK THE
LIVES. OUR LOVED ONES. THE
RAPID GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF
CASES HAS PUT OUR STATE REALLY
IN A RACE AGAINST TIME. WE
NEED TO GROW HOSPITAL CAPACITY
OR ELSE. FACE AN EVEN GREATER
PUBLIC HEALTH. EMERGENCY. IN
THE MORE OF US TO STAY HOME.
THE FEWER OF US WHO WILL FOR
THE FEW OF US WHO WILL BE
INFECTED BY COVID 19 AND THE
MORE LIVES WILL BE SAVED. THIS
IS A VERY DIFFICULT CHOICE.
AND I MAKE THIS DIFFICULT
CHOICE KNOWING IT WILL ADD TO
THE ECONOMIC AND FAMILY
HARDSHIP. IN YOUR STATE ARE
ALREADY FEELING AS WE TRY TO
SLOW AND TURNED BACK THIS
PANDEMIC. BUT WE NEED TO THINK
ABOUT IT IN THESE TERMS. WE
WANT TO GET BACK TO NORMAL AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE DO NOT
WANT THIS LINGERING INTRUSION
IN OUR LIVES. AND THE FASTEST
WAY TO GET BACK TO NORMAL IS
TO HIT THIS HARD. THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE DOING. WHY BECAUSE
WASHINGTONIANS WANT TO GET
BACK TO BUSINESS AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE. SO TO ADDRESS THIS
LAST WEEK I TOLD YOU ABOUT
STEPS WE'RE TAKING TO RELIEVE
ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF AFFECTED
WASHINGTONIANS. WE CONTINUE
THE SEARCH FOR WAYS TO
MITIGATE THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS
OF THIS PANDEMIC. ON THE LIVES
OF OUR 7 MILLION RESIDENTS.
YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT
STATE ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE
BY VISITING CORONAVIRUS DOT
WAS W A DOT GOV. AND I CANNOT
EMPHASIZE THE FOLLOWING POINT
STRONGLY ENOUGH. FOR THE SAKE
OF OUR NEIGHBORS. CARE WORKERS
ARE SENIORS AND OTHERS. NO ONE
SHOULD MAKE A RUN ON THE
GROCERY STORES TO OVER STOCK.
IF EACH OF US MAINTAIN OUR
NORMAL SHOPPING HABITS.
THERE'S REALLY NOT GOING TO BE
ANY ANY EMPTY SHELLS WE FEEL
GOOD ABOUT THIS. SO IN THESE
UNCERTAIN TIMES I WOULD
ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO. TURN TO
WHATEVER THEIR LIVES CAN BRING
THEM HOPE. WHAT GIVES ME OLD.
ARE THE STORIES OF RESILIENCE
AND OF ACTION BY INDIVIDUAL
WASHINGTONIANS. TO AID AND
COMFORT EACH OTHER AS WE
WHETHER THIS CRISIS. I'VE
HEARD LIKE THE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS IN TACOMA AND P L A.
THEY ARE LAUNCHING CHILD CARE
SERVICES FOR OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS AND MEDICAL
WORKERS. PROFESSIONALS AND THE
MEDICAL FRONT WHO ARE WORKING
UNDER ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON THE
FRONT LINES OF THIS WAR
AGAINST THIS VIRUS. YOU KNOW
THESE ARE THE FOLKS IN SOME
WAY ARE RISKING THEIR LIVES
FOR US THESE ARE THE CURRENT
DAY HEROES. AND WE KNOW THAT
THOSE HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE
GOING TO WORK. SO WE CAN STAY
HOME AND BE SAFE. OUR CHILD
CARE WORKERS. ARE CRUCIAL
SUPPORT SYSTEM IN THIS
STRUGGLE. AND SO THEY'RE GOING
TO WORK AS WELL. THEY GO TO
WORK AT GREAT RISK TO THEIR
HEALTH. SO WE CAN STAY AT
HOME. I'M ALSO INSPIRED BY THE
STORY OF A FURNITURE FACTORY
IN A CULT HEAL. IT'S NOW USING
ITS FACILITIES TO PRODUCE
SURGICAL MASKS AND FACE
SHIELDS FOR PROVIDENCE HEALTH
CARE WORKERS. TO ADDRESS THE
THREAT OF PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
SHORTAGES. AND YEAH COME OFF
OR A SMALL RESTAURANT OWNER IN
BUSINESS. HE'S ONLY BEEN IN
BUSINESS 3 MONTHS BEFORE WE
GOT HIT, BUT THIS CRISIS. BUT
HE'S NOW SERVING FREE BROWN
BAG LUNCHES THAT SENIORS CAN
PICK UP DAILY. OUTSIDE HER
RESTAURANT. THESE UH STORIES
THAT CAN INSPIRE ALL OF US. WE
ALSO KNOW THIS. WELL WE
MINIMIZE OUR PHYSICAL
CONNECTIONS. IT IS ESSENTIAL
THAT WE MAXIMIZE OUR EMOTIONAL
CONNECTIONS. WE CAN ALL HELP
THEIR LOVED ONES EVERY DAY
ELECTRONIC WAIT. WE KNOW THIS
FUNDAMENTALLY. THIS CHALLENGE
IS TEMPORARY. SCHOOLS WILL. WE
OPEN. WEDDINGS WILL HAPPEN.
FACTORIES WILL START AGAIN.
AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TOAST
THE END OF THIS YOUR FAVORITE
HANGOUT. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
BECAUSE WE ARE HITTING THIS
HARD. BUT EVERY SINGLE
WASHINGTONIAN. NEEDS TO ENLIST
THEMSELVES IN THIS TUMULTUOUS
STRUGGLE. IF WE ARE TO WIN. WE
NEED EVERY WASHINGTONIAN TO BE
THOUGHTFUL. AND CALM AND
COMPASSIONATE. KNOWING FOR
CERTAIN THAT WE CAN GET
THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. I'M
REMINDED OF THE WORK OF ONE OF
OUR GREAT PORTS. WALT WHITMAN.
IN SONG MYSELF HE WROTE. OF
THE COURAGE OF PRESIDENT TIMES
AND ALL TIMES. OF FIGHTING
THROUGH THE STORE WITH
KNUCKLES TIGHT AND NOT GIVING
BACK AN INCH. TO SAVE OTHERS
CONSUMED BY THE TIDES. WE NEED
THIS SPIRIT. NOW IN OUR STATE.
WE NEED THIS NOW IN OUR
NATION. BECAUSE LIFE WILL BE
DIFFERENT IN WASHINGTON. FOR A
WHILE. BUT WE WILL KEEP
WORKING UNTIL THIS PANDEMIC IS
DEFEATED. UNTIL THEN I MAKE
THIS PROMISE TO YOU. MY FELLOW
WASHINGTONIANS AS BORROWED
FROM THE SAME REPORT. YOU HAVE
GOOD CHEER. WE WILL NOT DESERT