Thread by @Seattle2019nCov

WATCH: Gov. Inslee and other local leaders will announce new social distancing plans at 10:15am.

#Coronavirus #COVID19 #CoronavirusSeattle

Stream here: tvw.org/watch/?clientI…

https://twitter.com/Seattle2019nCov/status/1237529918906327042

Speakers:

https://twitter.com/ClancyKIRO7/status/1237786874011217920?s=20

[Attempted *summary* of key points]
🎙️ Events of 250 or more people are prohibited by order of the Governor
🎙️ Could be expanded (or removed) in the days to come
🎙️ This is an "extremely dangerous" event we are facing

🎙️ REDUCING SOCIAL INTERACTIONS that are not necessary in our lives is an EFFECTIVE tactic to slow the spread
🎙️ Our upcoming decisions will be profoundly disturbing to how we live our lives today, but they are based on science

🎙️ It is very highly likely that this prohibition will be extended beyond March, but it will be decided at that time
🎙️ This is not a time for high risk populations to be going out into public - it's just too dangerous

🎙️ Asking employers to make changes to how they do business: maximize remote work for those who can, embed social distancing into their organizational structure (e.g. increase distance b/w employees, customers etc.)

🎙️ We are fighting this epidemic because we don't want to see an avalanche of people coming into our hospitals
🎙️ We have a plan to accommodate thousands of people who will need serious medical attention - but that will be stretched at best

🎙️ Children have the capability to transmit disease, so we are asking all school districts to immediately begin contingency planning for potential school closures in the next several days
🎙️ Schools can help us provide nutritional needs for children if closures are req'd

🎙️ More guidance for schools to come in next couple of days
🎙️ We need to set a template for the rest of the country, who will soon be where we are now

That concludes Gov' Inslees opening.

Next up: King County Executive, Dow Constantine:

🎙️ Gatherings smaller than 250 should NOT happen unless very clear public health recommended steps are taken
🎙️ @DocJeffD will sign an order to prohibit smaller events UNLESS they meet public health requirements (i.e. sanitation)

🎙️ "Temporarily banning social events will help ensure a health crisis does not become a humanitarian disaster"
🎙️ "The core challenge is to delay the spread of disease to reduce the peak number of people to not exceed the health care system capacity"

🎙️ Businesses can and should continue IF (AND ONLY IF) they are able to meet the criteria to dramatically reduce transmission
🎙️ Decisions are driven by science and data
🎙️ If left unmitigated, infection #'s double every 5-7 days, maybe quicker early in the epidemic

🎙️ We need forward looking measures from ALL members of our society - businesses AND individuals
🎙️ "We must take time to be sure we get this right, but we have to act with urgency and leave no one behind"

That concludes Dow Constantine's statement.

Now up: @DocJeffD, Public Health Officer for King County:
🎙️ We're taking unprecedented actions today, and are facing unprecedented health emergency
🎙️ We're learning of more cases each day as testing increases
🎙️ "We expect a large scale outbreak in weeks"

🎙️ "You can think of it as a large scale earthquake that will shake us for weeks and weeks"
🎙️ We cannot stop it, but we can slow it
🎙️ Reducing the size of the epidemic peak will lessen the impact on our community and health care system

🎙️ I'm issuing a health officer order: all events of 250+ are prohibited, and events <250 are prohibited unless they meet certain public health requirements. This does not apply to grocery stores or family events

🎙️ Also ordering schools to plan now for closure

Now up: Bruce D, Pierce County Executive:

🎙️ Significant actions is needed to protect the at-risk individuals
🎙️ Acknowledge the consequences, e.g. it's the middle of non-profit fundraising season
🎙️ Calling on everyone to support the critical non-profits at this time, when they are needed more than ever

🎙️ Redouble efforts to care for loved ones, friends, and neighbors.

Now up, Dave S, Snohomish County Executive:

🎙️ Two priorities: save lives, protect the vulnerable
🎙️ Decisions driven by science and impact on community
🎙️ They will be disruptive, but we must take them to save lives and reduce burden on health care system

🎙️ "Personal responsibility is the first line of defense"
🎙️ Self-isolate if you are elderly; if you have elderly in your family, remind them of this

Gov Inslee: gives anecdote about what's happening in Italy.

Reads aloud a text from someone in Italy:

🎙️ "Stop saying it's just flu or severe flu. Please come and see our ICUs in northern Italy. People can't breath, and we don't have anywhere to put them"

Doctor Duchin on "flattening the curve"

Cites @trvrb's work to illustrate what happens if we don't take social distancing measures to "flatten the curve"

🎙️ This is a very serious disease. Killing 10x people as annual influenza impact is very severe.

🎙️ The more people that become ill in a short time frame, the harder it is for health care system to meet their needs

Gov Inslee again:
🎙️ This model only goes through April, and the # can reach 25k if we don't act
🎙️ By Mid May we could look at 60k+ people if we don't act

QUESTION & ANSWER PORTION:

Q: <Something around enforcement and how this impacts airports, etc.>
🎙️ Confident that Washingtonians will accept and abide by order because they understand severity

🎙️ Don't expect enforcement to have to be involved
🎙️ That said - if someone is willfully ignoring, there are legal means to stop that from happening

Q: how did you arrive at "250"?
🎙️ Not based on an algorithmic model; once you reach 250, it becomes harder to physically enact social distancing; we thought over 250, it would be impossible to do that

<some questions missed due to laggy connection>

Q: What is penalty for not abiding?
🎙️ You might kill your grandad <rest of answer cut off by buffering of live stream>

Q to Duchin: criteria for gatherings under 250 ppl?
🎙️ Require older adults and individuals with underlying conditions be actively encouraged not to attend
🎙️ Social distancing measures to be met, e.g. limit close contact of people within 6 feet

🎙️ Employees be screened for events and be excluded if symptomatic (fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat etc.)
🎙️ Sponsor must follow cleaning guidelines for CDC

🎙️ This is all about decreasing bringing together people when non-essential that provides oppty to spread the disease
🎙️ It's a multi-layered strategy - we know none will be 100% and that's expected

<missed question about preparation of community clinics>

On a different topic:
🎙️ There are resources online for the public to answer what to do if you get COVID19, have symptoms, etc.
🎙️ We provide this information so people can take individual responsibility

Gov Inslee:
🎙️ Our state legislature will delegate at least $100M to help with response
🎙️ Don't feel it's draconian to help avoid more people from losing family
🎙️ It's a reasonable approach made by elected officials to protect constituents

🎙️ We do not want to be in a position where some Chinese and Italian communities have been
🎙️ We want to do everything we can to avoid that
🎙️ Very concerned about unsheltered people; looking for oppties for people who need shelter and who need to isolate themselves

[END OF PRESSER]

Please excuse typos and grammatical errors.