Thread by @Seattle2019nCov

INSLEE PRESS CONFERENCE - @GovInslee

Watch Live Here: tvw.org/watch/?clientI…

*Summary* below

🎙️ Not issuing any legally binding orders today, but doesn't mean won't be back soon for legally binding orders
🎙️ Remain concerned that some in WA aren't taking measures necessary
🎙️ Not hyperbolic to say *everyone* needs to change way of life to prevent loss of lie

🎙️ If you're living a normal life, you're not doing what you need to do to save lives
🎙️ Orders were laid out last week to stop gathering (bars, restaurants etc.) but some are still ignoring these orders and common sense

🎙️ These orders are crucial to halt the spread and stave off disaster to our lives and our economy - they are enforceable by law
🎙️ If people continue to ignore, will go farther to protect 7m Washingtonians
🎙️ Asking and pleading: STAY HOME unless necessary for you to go out

🎙️ We must change the way we do business and run our family life
🎙️ Employers have a moral obligation to protect health and safety of their workforce
🎙️ Workers over 65 and w/ underlying health conditions are particularly vulnerable

🎙️ Working on a proclamation to ensure workers have a legal right to leave the workplace to protect themselves
🎙️ Would ensure legal protection to get job back when this is over

🎙️ If your job is not necessary to support community (i.e. physicians, food supply etc.) you ought to be home; "we want to protect you while you are home"
🎙️ Exploring executive order or other action to get this done

🎙️ Asking employers to make accommodations for social distancing and bio-security for ALL on-site employees
🎙️ If you have someone older in your family, call them and say "you can't go out anymore except for essential purposes"
🎙️ Walks outside are fine if you keep your distance

🎙️ Dinner parties and sewing needle get togethers are just too dangerous for this age group

🎙️ Stress of isolation is troublesome, so call, text, or send letters and flowers
🎙️ Technically it's a crime to violate any of these rules, but it's a moral crime to put other people at risk

Briefing on efforts by the State:
🎙️ Intent on making decisions based on data and science
🎙️ We have made some progress because of what we've done together - ban gatherings, close bars - but *we have not done enough*

🎙️ Have looked at traffic data as a proxy for social interactions; there is good and bad news in this data
🎙️ Chart of WSDOT-Tolled Facilities since March 1st
🎙️ Seen a reduction of 61% below average levels for SR 99, but we need it to continue to go down

🎙️ SR 520 bridge has also seen reduction in last 18 days to 51% of typical traffic
🎙️ Tacoma Narrows Bridge is only down 24%
🎙️ SR 167 is only down 28%
🎙️ Spokane is only 20% down
🎙️ Lakewood area of I5 is only down 5%
🎙️ This is not enough. Too many interactions in our state.

🎙️ WA is testing ~3.5k / day
🎙️ So far 7% positive and 93% negative, but 7% could still represent a doubling of the virus
🎙️ These facts don't give us sufficient evidence we have beat the virus
🎙️ Risk of explosion of virus remains real

🎙️ Good news in efforts to build hospital capacity
🎙️ PPE: will receive 1.6m respirators, 560k surgical masks, 12m gloves, 650k gowns, 74k canisters of disinfectant
🎙️ Have ordered 218 ventilators but we need more

Q&A:

Will you reschedule April special elections?
🎙️ Governor has not make decision, will work with Secretary Wyman

Why hold back shelter-in-place? What would change your mind?
🎙️ Day to day assessment using data from WA
🎙️ Actions taken have covered much of a shelter-in-place order
🎙️ When put in place, must be surgical to ensure essential activities can be carried out

(cont.)
🎙️ Starting to discover what that would look like when we make that decision
🎙️ Evaluating whether we think we can avoid massive loss of life
🎙️ To avoid something like this, we need powerful volunteers
🎙️ If we do that, we may avoid some decisions other states have made

Latest on the hospital ship?
🎙️ Have requested it; made powerful argument that unfortunately WA will have health care system that is severely challenged
🎙️ Have had good discussions with DoD
🎙️ Also considering medical assistants from US Army (including 750 bed field-hospital)

Estimate when PPE and ventilators will arrive in WA?
🎙️ As early as this weekend, received notification it's on trucks and trains on it's way
🎙️ Delaying elective surgeries so we can stockpile that equipment for future needs

🎙️ Dental society decided on their own to preserve equipment
🎙️ Deferring elective surgeries may frustrate people but it can save lives

Are there ways to enforce what's already instituted? If there's a stay at home order, what would enforcement look like?
🎙️ Criminal infractions can be prosecuted if necessary, but it should not be necessary
🎙️ Vast majority are honoring orders

🎙️ We need individuals to take responsibility, don't go out to dinner, teens shouldn't hang with friends, call your grandparents to ensure they don't go out
🎙️ Seen a lot of it, but not enough

Do you think it's enough to say "please take it seriously this time"?
🎙️ Numbers show that we've had some success; lots are staying home
🎙️ We need to continue to ramp up efforts
🎙️ If we're not cutting mustard, further orders can come with greater scope and stronger enforcement

🎙️ Most people at Alki have parents and siblings, and those folks should hear from them; some people need an attitude adjustment

Are you (Governor) doing everything you can to stop the spread?
🎙️ We're doing everything that's good for the health and safety of people in WA
🎙️ WA was one of first to legally ban large gatherings, close schools and entertainment venues

🎙️ WA is providing good unemployment compensation; understand there are delivery issues but have waived the one week requirement; hiring 100 people to try and accelerate getting that money out the door

🎙️ There may be additional orders that become necessary
🎙️ Orders aren't slam dunks because it impacts people's ability to pay rent and buy food, which must be taken into consideration
🎙️ Will continue to look at data every day

Most important metric to trigger more restrictive statewide shelter-in-place?
🎙️ It would be easy if we could give one metric, but there is no algorithm; must make judgement about the right call based on a lot of uncertainty

🎙️ We've had uptick in hospitalizations of people with COVID19 like symptoms - that's troublesome
🎙️ Have had mixed results in traffic patterns - sufficient in some places inadequate in others
🎙️ Looking at surge capacity in hospitals

🎙️ Continuing sophisticated modeling from epidemiologists - it'll be some time before we have the next model to help predict these matters
🎙️ The virus has thrown curveballs; it's not entirely predictable; virus appears to behave differently depending on population it's in

Should Boeing shut down that plant?
🎙️ Boeing is connected to our state's entire economy, must consider economic impact to families if they must close

🎙️ Today we're telling Boeing employees and all employees that if you're over 65 or have underlying conditions, you should be able to stay home, keep your job and get unemployment compensation

🎙️ Decision has not been mode for the employees; evaluate this on a daily basis
🎙️ The possibility exists, will be based on data that comes in hourly

End of conference

Please excuse brevity and/or typos