Slowly coming back
The Stay Home, Stay Healthy interventions are working and have helped to slow the spread of COVID-19. This week the governor described his vision for safely reopening the state. Because of the successes our collective efforts have had, it is likely that the governor may soon loosen some of the restrictions around elective surgeries, outdoor recreation, and some construction.
But, it is important to make sure that a loosening of the Stay home, Stay Healthy order does not cause more people to be infected with COVID-19 or die of the disease.
So, as we begin to slowing reopen the state, there are several things we will need to do to make sure that we reopen safely. Not all of these are in place, and the governor did not announce any timelines or dates for modifying his Stay Home order yet.
We will continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 closely.
The governor described the loosening of restrictions as a dial we can turn up and down, adjusting to what the data tell us and to our ability to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19.
We will all need to continue to practice physical distancing for some time.
This is likely to include continued teleworking for those who are able, continued distance learning, and continuing to stay at least six feet away from others. Of course, the success of these interventions is dependent on all of us also washing our hands thoroughly and frequently, using hand sanitizer when we can’t wash our hands, and being sure to stay home when we are feeling sick. Even just a little bit sick.
We must increase the availability of testing so that everyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 can get tested.
This will mean that we need to be processing between 20,000 and 30,000 tests a day, far more than we are currently doing. As testing availability increases, if we get a fever and cough or other symptoms of COVID-19, we will get tested and then isolate ourselves until the results come in. If we are positive, we will remember all the people we have had contact with in the recent past and tell public health staff about them. Then all of the people we had contact with will get tested and quarantine themselves until they have their results. This will require new testing resources, new public health resources, and the vigilance of all of us to stay physically distant from others, to call our health care provider if we get symptoms, and to follow instructions from our health care providers and public health.
Working together, and following the science and data, we can work our way out of this crisis.
Practice compassion.
We have a path forward, and we know it will require all of us to work together to keep each other safe.
More Information.
Stay tuned to our blog for more information on how you can help stop the spread of COVID-19. Sign up to be notified whenever we post new articles.
Information in this blog changes rapidly. Check the state’s COVID-19 website for up-to-date and reliable info at coronavirus.wa.gov.
Answers to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington state may be found at our website. You can also contact our call center at
1–800–525–0127. Hours: 6 am-10 pm, seven days a week.
