WE ARE COMING BACK INTO A
PUBLIC SESSION BECAUSE THE
BREAKING NEWS ON THE CORONA
VIRUS THAT WE WANT THE PUBLIC
TO SEE THROUGH SEATTLE CHANNEL.
PLEASE BEAR WITH US HERE.
THANK YOU.
WE HAD A CDC TEAM ON-SITE AND
CONTINUES TO BE ON SITE AT
LIFECARE PROVIDING INFECTION
CONTROL GUIDANCE TO THEIR TEAM.
THEY'RE WORKING WITH LEADERSHIP
OF THE FACILITY AS WELL TO
FACILITATE INFECTION CONTROL
STRATEGIES TO PROTECT THE
RESIDENTS AND THE CAREGIVERS.
WE UNDERSTAND, AGAIN, HOW
STRESSFUL THIS IS.
THIS IS A VERY UNCERTAIN TIME.
THERE'S A LOT THAT WE DON'T
KNOW.
THERE'S A LOT THAT WE DON'T
UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS NEW
VIRUS, ABOUT HOW IT'S MOVING.
THE SPECTRUM OF ILLNESS THAT IT
CAUSES AND HOW IT IS
TRANSMITTED.
WE'RE DOING OUR VERY BEST TO
ENSURE THAT WE PROVIDE THE
HIGHEST LEVEL OF GUIDANCE TO
PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY
OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I AND OF OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS
CARING FOR OUR UNITY MEMBERS.
I HAVE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF
EMAILS FROM FAMILY MEMBERS AT
LIFECARE AND I WANT TO
APOLOGIZE TO ALL OF THEM I
HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO RETURN
THOSE EMAILS PERSONALLY COME
ALTHOUGH I VERY MUCH WOULD HAVE
LIKED TO PICK I UNDERSTAND THAT
THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED, AND
RIGHTLY SO, ABOUT THE HEALTH OF
THEIR LOVED ONES IN THE FACILITY
. AND I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT
I AM AS WELL.
AND THAT WE ARE DOING
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE
SURE THE FACILITY GETS ANY
STAFF, ANY TRAINING AND ANY
ASSISTANCE THAT THEY REQUIRE TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEIR LOVED ONES
IN THAT FACILITY GET THE BEST
POSSIBLE CARE.
WE ARE PLANNING TO DEVELOP A
TEAM TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN
THAT FACILITY CAN BE TESTED FOR
COVID-19, BUT I WANT THE
FAMILIES TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE
CARE THAT THEY RECEIVE IS NOT
DEPENDENT ON THE RESULTS OF
THEIR TEST REMEMBER, THERE IS
NO SPECIFIC TREATMENT FOR THIS
DISEASE BUT THERE IS NO
PREVENTIVE MEASURE. WHETHER OR
NOT THEY TEST POSITIVE OR
NEGATIVE THEY WILL STILL GO TO
A HEALTHCARE FACILITY IF THEY
REQUIRE TO GO TO A HEALTHCARE
FACILITY BECAUSE OF THEIR
MEDICAL CONDITION.
IT'S GOOD FOR US TO KNOW, BUT
AT THIS POINT WE ASSUME THAT IF
SOMEONE IS IN THAT FACILITY
THEY LIKELY HAVE BEEN INFECTED
OR ERROR AT HIGH RISK FOR
INFECTION AND THEY ARE BEING
MANAGED AS IF THEY ARE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
UPDATES AS WE GET INFORMATION.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU AGAIN
THAT COVID-19 CAN CAUSES SEVERE
DISEASE, AS WE SEE IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE LIFECARE
OUTBREAK, BUT FOR MANY OF US
THE DISEASE IS MILD AND
MODERATE BUT THE VAST MAJORITY
OF PEOPLE DO NOT REQUIRE
HOSPITALIZATION.
OR MEDICAL CARE, FOR THAT
MATTER.
WE DO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
MILD ILLNESSES, PLEASE DON'T
OVERLOAD OUR AREA HEALTHCARE
FACILITIES.
PLEASE GO TO THE EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR
HEALTH CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE
PROVIDER BEFORE YOU GO IN.
THEY'RE NOW GOING TO TURN THE
PODIUM OVER TO THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE DALE CONSTANTINE TO
TALK ABOUT CELL MEASURES THAT
WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO HELP
INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY
DECREASE THEIR RISK OF COVID-19
AS THIS OUTBREAK CONTINUES TO
PROGRESS.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR BEING
HERE TODAY.
I WANT TO JOIN IN EXPRESSING MY
DEEP CONCERN FOR THE RESIDENTS
OF THE LIFE CENTER AND WHAT
THEY ARE EXPENSING TODAY AND TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAMILIES, THE
FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST LOVED
ONES, THE FAMILIES WHO ARE
CONCERNED FOR THE LOVED ONES
WHO ARE THERE AT THE FACILITY.
AND TO THOSE WHO ARE RECOVERING
OUR COMMUNITY STANDS WITH YOU
IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
THIS IS A SHIFTING LANDSCAPE.
REALLY SHIFTING BY THE HOUR.
AND AS THIS OUTBREAK PROGRESSES
PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS AND
POLICYMAKERS MUST ADAPT AND
ESTABLISH NEW SETS OF
EXPECTATIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE OBJECTIVES. WE
ARE DETERMINED TO SLOW THE
SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS IN THE
COMMUNITY.
WE ARE DETERMINED TO PROTECT
THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE.
OUR OLDER RESIDENTS, THOSE WITH
COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS AND
OTHERS.
AND IN DOING THOSE THINGS WE
ALSO WANT TO PROTECT OUR
ECONOMY.
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
CONTINUE TO HAVE PEOPLE BE
EMPLOYED, TO HAVE PEOPLE BE
ABLE TO WORK THE REALITY IS
THIS, THE MORE WE SLOW DOWN THE
SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS, THE MORE
WE SLOW DOWN THE DISEASE THE
GREATER THE CHANCES OF KEEPING
PEOPLE HEALTHY, OF SAVING LIVES.
AS SUCH, WE ARE RECOMMENDING,
THOUGH TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE NOT
REQUIRING OR MANDATING
ADDITIONAL STEPS TO MINIMIZE
THIS OUTBREAK. FOR OLDER PEOPLE,
WHICH MY STAFF AND PUBLIC
HEALTH HAS DEFINED AS PEOPLE
OVER 60 WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH
CONDITIONS I THINK THAT IS
GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS
CONSIDERED ON A CASE-BY-CASE
BASIS, AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE
PREGNANT WE ARE RECOMMENDING
THAT YOU STAY HOME AND AVOID
LARGE GATHERINGS AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE.
WE ARE ENCOURAGING EMPLOYERS TO
MAXIMIZE TELECOMMUTING AND TO
MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR EMPLOYEES
WHO CAN'T WORK FROM HOME TO DO
SO.
COMMUNITY GROUPS SHOULD AVOID
CREATING LARGE GATHERINGS.
AND THE RULE OF THUMB THAT
PUBLIC HEALTH IS RECOMMENDING
IS GATHERINGS OF MORE THAN 10
PEOPLE.
AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR
THIS OFTEN FROM US THOSE WHO
ARE SICK MUST STAY HOME.
PLEASE STAY HOME.
AND IF YOU ARE ILL PLEASE CALL
YOUR DOCTOR'S OFFICE, DON'T GO
IN AND EXPOSE OTHERS, DON'T GO
IN AND OVERWHELM THE MEDICAL
SYSTEM.
PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR PATTY
HAYES WILL SOON EXPLAIN PUBLIC
HEALTH IS NOT MAKING A
RECOMMENDATION TO CLOSE SCHOOLS.
THAT'S A QUESTION THAT COMES UP
OFTEN.
AS AN EMPLOYER AT A REGIONAL
GOVERNMENT, KING COUNTY IS
FOLLOWING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS
OURSELVES.
WE ARE PUTTING THEM INTO
PRACTICE. ALL NONESSENTIAL KING
COUNTY CONVENED LARGE GROUP
MEETINGS WILL BE CANCELED FOR
THE NEXT THREE WEEKS WERE
THROUGH THE END OF MARCH.
WE'RE GOING TO REASSESS THAT
DECISION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
EMPLOYEES WHO CAN TELECOMMUTE
ARE GOING TO BE ENCOURAGED TO
DO SO.
WE ARE GOING TO PLAN TO DO THIS
FOR THE COMING THREE WEEKS BUT
I'M GOING TO HAVE US REASSESS
AT THE END OF EACH WEEK TO
DETERMINE WHETHER OUR MEASURES
NEED TO BE READJUSTED.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING, BOTH
TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES FROM
BECOMING ILL AND TO ENSURE THAT
SERVICES ARE CONTINUING TO FLOW
TO THE PUBLIC.
WE HAVE A DIVERSE WORKFORCE.
MANY OF OUR DEDICATED PUBLIC
SERVANTS MUST REPORT FOR WORK
IN PERSON BRICK TELECOMMUTING
IS NOT AN OPTION PICK THEY
SERVE OUR PUBLIC DIRECTLY. LET
ME GIVE THE EXAMPLE OF BUS
DRIVERS.
THIS, OF COURSE, RAISES EQUITY
ISSUES WITHIN OUR WORKFORCE.
THAT IS A REALITY THAT WE HAD
OTHER EMPLOYERS ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE
THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE
REPORTING IN PERSON FOR WORK
CAN STAY SAFE, CAN STAY
HEALTHY, AND CAN STAY ON THE
JOB SERVING THE PUBLIC.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE CONTINUING
TO SITE FACILITIES FOR
ISOLATION AND TREATMENT OF
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO
THE VIRUS.
WE HAVE PLACED MODULAR UNITS
NEAR WHITE CENTER. AND WE CHOSE
THAT LOCATION BECAUSE WE OWN
THE LAND. THE SITE HAS ACCESS
TO UTILITIES.
AND WITH THE EMERGENCY WAIVER I
HAVE SIGNED WE CAN EXPEDITE
CONSTRUCTION.
I UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY HAS
QUESTIONS THEM AS WILL ALL
COMMUNITIES WE ARE ANSWERING
THOSE QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR, WE MUST
MOVE QUICKLY MOVE QUICKLY TO
STAY AHEAD OF THIS OUTBREAK.
EVERY LOCATION THAT WE SELECT
WILL BE SET UP AND STAFFED AND
MONITORED APPROPRIATELY AND WE
ARE SEEKING ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS
WHEREVER AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT
ALL OF KING COUNTY.
AT THIS TIME I CAN ANNOUNCE
THAT WE HAVE SECURED TWO
ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS FOR
MODULAR UNITS. ONE AT INTERBAY
AND ONE IN NORTH SEATTLE.
WE HAVE FINALIZE THE PURCHASE
OF THE MOTEL I MENTIONED A
COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. THAT IS
LOCATED IN KENT. WE ARE WORKING
WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HOPE TO
HAVE IT OPERATIONAL WITHIN DAYS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE
INTERESTED, OUR COMMUNICATIONS
FOLKS HAVE THE ADDRESS OF THAT
FACILITY AND THEY'RE GOING TO
BE OFFERING A TOUR OF IT THIS
AFTERNOON.
THESE ARE STRESSFUL TIMES.
THIS VIRUS WILL TEST OUR
RESILIENCY IT WILL TEST OUR
COMPASSION AND OUR ABILITY TO
LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER.
WE ARE ANSWERING THOUSANDS OF
QUESTIONS PER QUESTIONS FROM
MEDIA, QUESTIONS FROM COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, FROM BUSINESSES, FROM
OTHER GOVERNMENTS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THIS
SITUATION REQUIRES US TO ACT
WITH URGENCY. WE ALL NEED TO BE
IN THIS TOGETHER.
PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE REGION
HAVE REACHED OUT ASKING WHAT
THEY CAN DO TO HELP IT HAS BEEN
IMMENSELY GRATIFYING.
WE ARE COPING WITH THE MOST
SERIOUS OUTBREAK OF COVID-19
ANYWHERE IN THE NATION FOR OUR
ACTIONS ARE FORMING THE MODEL
THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS OUR
ENTIRE GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY
THE SCIENTISTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
LEADERS WORKING AROUND THE
CLOCK DAY AFTER DAY ARE
COMMITTED TO RETURNING OUR
COMMUNITY TO NORMAL AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO
YOU THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
HEALTH SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY,
PATTY HAYES.
THANK YOU.
I WANT TO START BY ECHOING WHAT
DR. JENSEN AND EXECUTIVE
CONSTANTINE HAVE SAID ABOUT HOW
WE ARE APPROACHING THIS NOVEL
VIRUS AND ITS RISK TO THE PUBLIC
. OUR DEEP CONCERN FOR THE
SITUATION AT LIFECARE IN THE
COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AS WE FACE
THIS UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE.
YOUR COOPERATION AND YOUR
PATIENCE ARE VITAL TO THE
COMMUNITIES SUCCESS AND ABILITY
TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.
TODAY PUBLIC HEALTH SEATTLE
KING COUNTY IS TAKING PROACTIVE
STEPS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF
OUR COMMUNITY BY MAKING THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS AS YOU HAVE
HEARD THEY ARE MEANT TO SLOW
THE SPREAD OF NOVEL CORONA VIRUS
IN OUR COMMUNITY AND REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE INFECTED.
FIRST ON MY MIND IS ALWAYS OUR
ENTIRE COMMUNITY AS PUBLIC
HEALTH.
I THINK THAT ALL COMMITTEES,
ALL COMMUNITIES NEEDS AND
KNOWING WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH
THIS VIRUS MY MIND IN CONCERN
GOES, SPECIFICALLY, TO THE
STRESS ON THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
AND THE PROVIDERS THAT ARE
WORKING IN THE FIELD RIGHT NOW,
OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. IT'S
UNDER INCREDIBLE STRESS RIGHT
NOW AS WE WORK TO PLAN,
COORDINATE AND ASSIST THOSE WHO
ARE IN NEED RIGHT NOW.
AS YOU HAVE HEARD, THIS
DISTANCING MEASURES THAT WE ARE
RECOMMENDING ARE ESSENTIAL,
BECAUSE WE NEED TO SLOW THE
SPREAD OF DISEASE TO THE POINT
WHERE OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM CAN
CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE
THE LOAD.
WE DO NOT WANT THE SITUATION
THAT HAS BEEN SEEN IN OTHER
AREAS, IN OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE
THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS
OVERLOADED AND UNABLE TO COPE.
THE MEASURES THAT I AM TALKING
TO YOU ABOUT TODAY WORK TO
ACHIEVE THAT BUT AS EXECUTIVE
CONSTANTINE SAID, WE WILL BE
ASSESSING THIS EVERY DAY,
ACTUALLY, IN MY JOB AND WE WILL
BE MEETING WITH THE EXECUTIVE
ON A REGULAR BASIS.
A SECOND REASON WE ARE DOING
THIS RELATESTO THE POTENTIAL,
EVEN IF IT'S A SMALL POTENTIAL,
TO PREVENT THE OUTBREAK FROM
SPREADING AND GROWING.
IT IS A NEW VIRUS AND I HAVE
BEEN TELLING PEOPLE TO TALK TO
THEIR NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BUT I GET
THE QUESTION WHAT IS DIFFERENT
FROM THIS AND THE FLU?
I GO BACK TO WHAT WE TALKED TO
YOU ABOUT BEFORE.
THERE ARE THREE THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, IT'S A NEW VIRUS
THERE IS NO IMMUNITY TO THAT.
WE MUST BE LOOKING AT THOSE
THINGS THAT WE CAN DO WITH THAT
IN MIND THAT PEOPLE ARE FACED
WITHOUT IMMUNITY.
WE KNOW THAT 80% OF PEOPLE WILL
NOT HAVE SERIOUS ISSUES AND IT
CAN BE HANDLED AND MAYBE SICK
AT HOME, BUT WILL BE OKAY.
IT IS THAT 20% THAT CAN GET
SEVERE ILLNESS WHERE WE WANT TO
DO THESE MEASURES, SO THAT WE
ARE PROTECTING EVERYBODY.
SECONDLY, THERE IS NO TREATMENT
FOR THIS VIRUS RIGHT NOW.
AS YOU HEARD DR. NEWTON SAY,
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE TEST
SHOWS THE TREATMENT RIGHT NOW
IS WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY DO
FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS HAVING THESE
FLULIKE, PNEUMONIA LIKE, AND
SEVERE LUNG INFECTIONS.
I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE
WORKING VERY HARD ON TREATMENT
AND I APPLAUD THEM.
THAT IS HAPPENING LOCALLY,
NATIONALLY, AND AROUND THE
WORLD.
THIRDLY, THERE IS NO
DEMONIZATION, NO VACCINE FOR
THIS.
THAT IS AGAIN BEING
SCIENTIFICALLY DRIVEN AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE FOR RIGHT
NOW MY JOB IS TO RECOMMEND THE
BEST WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITY NOW.
SPECIFICALLY, WE UNDERSTAND
THAT THE ACTIONS HAVE A
TREMENDOUS IMPACT AND SO WE ARE
STARTING WITH THOSE THINGS THAT
WE ARE RECOMMENDING, NOT
MANDATING BUT I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE THAT.
FIRST, FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE
LET ME REPEAT THAT PEOPLE WHO
ARE AT HIGHER RISK OF SEVERE
ILLNESS SHOULD TRY TO STAY HOME
AND AWAY FROM LARGE GROUPS AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
INCLUDING PUBLIC PLACES AND
WHERE LOTS OF PEOPLE GATHER.
FOR WORKPLACES, AS THE
EXECUTIVE MENTIONED, WE ARE
RECOMMENDING THAT WORKPLACES
TAKE STEPS THAT ENABLE PEOPLE
WHO CAN WORK FROM HOME TO DO SO.
TAKING THESE MEASURES CAN HELP
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF WORKERS
WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH
COVID-19 AND HELP MINIMIZE
ABSENTEEISM DUE TO ILLNESS.
EMPLOYERS SHOULD MAXIMIZE
TELECOMMUTING. FOR AS MANY
EMPLOYEES AS POSSIBLE.
EMPLOYERS SHOULD URGE EMPLOYEES
TO STAY HOME WHEN THEY ARE SICK
BUT I CAN'T EMPHASIZE THAT
ENOUGH.
SOMETIMES WE ARE OUR OWN WORST
WHEN WE ARE SICK AND WE COME TO
WORK.
AREN'T WE?
WE NEED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER
FOR WHEN WE ARE SICK WE STAY
HOME.
I HAVE ALSO ENCOURAGED
EMPLOYERS TO START STAGGERING
START AND END TIMES.
THAT REDUCES THE LARGE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT AT
THE SAME TIME ON OUR MASS
TRANSIT.
I HAVE EVEN NOTICED A DIFFERENCE
ON I-FIVE CENTS WE STARTED
MESSAGING YOU.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU
HAVE, BUT REGARDING EVENTS AND
COMMUNITY GATHERINGS, IF YOU
CAN FEASIBLY AVOID LARGE GROUPS
OF PEOPLE TOGETHER CONSIDER
POSTPONING THOSE MEETINGS. WE
ARE TALKING TO COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, WE'RE TALKING TO
EMPLOYERS AND WE ARE TALKING TO
OUR GROUPS WHO ARE COMING AND
WANT TO COME TO SEATTLE.
WE ARE ASKING ALL OF OUR
RESIDENTS TO TAKE THESE STEPS
AND SLOW THE SPREAD LET ME TALK
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT SCHOOLS.
WE ARE IN DYNAMIC CONVERSATIONS
WITH SCHOOLS ON A DAILY BASIS
PUBLIC HEALTH IS NOT
RECOMMENDING CLOSING SCHOOLS AT
THIS TIME. UNLESS THERE HAS BEEN
A CONFIRMED CASE WITHIN THAT
SCHOOL.
THE REASON WE ARE NOT
RECOMMENDING SCHOOL CLOSURES IS
BECAUSE CHILDREN HAVE NOT BEEN
SHOWN TO BE A HIGH RISK GROUP,
WHICH CAN BE SO MUCH DIFFERENT
THAN WHAT WE EXPECT.
FOR OTHER ILLNESSES. CHILDREN
WHO HAVE COMPROMISED IMMUNE
SYSTEMS ARE, OF COURSE, IN THAT
OTHER CATEGORY THAT WE NEED TO
BE VERY CAREFUL WITH.
WE RESPECT EVERY SCHOOLS
INDIVIDUAL DECISION ABOUT
CLOSURE OR POSTPONEMENT OF
ACTIVITIES. AS EACH SCHOOL KNOWS
THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITY
AND IS TALKING TO THEIR PARENTS
AND THEIR COMMUNITY LIFETIME.
AS I SAID, IF THERE IS A
CONFIRMED CASE IN THE SCHOOL
PUBLIC HEALTH WILL WORK WITH
THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL AND THE
DISTRICT TO DETERMINE WHAT
MEASURES ARE BEST TO PROTECT.
THIS COULD INCLUDE THE CLOSURE
AND WE WILL DETERMINE WITH THAT
SCHOOL THE NUMBER OF DAYS AND
WHEN REOPENING WOULD OCCUR.
SCHOOLS ARE DOING THE IMPORTANT
WORK OF EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN.
WE DON'T WANT TO DISRUPT THAT
UNLESS WE KNOW CORONA VIRUS
EXPOSURE RISKS ARE THERE.
IN ADDITION TO SCHOOLS CLOSING
THAT CAN BE DISRUPTIVE AND
COSTLY FOR FAMILIES, WE KNOW
THAT AS WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS
WE ARE ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL
BENEFITS AND THE NEGATIVE
CONSEQUENCES OF CLOSURES.
WE ARE LEARNING FROM OTHER
EXPERIENCES ELSEWHERE.
BECAUSE WE KNOW WHEN SCHOOLS
ARE CLOSED CHILDREN GO OTHER
PLACES.
AND WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF
THAT.
ORAL HYGIENE WE HAVE TALKED TO
YOU ABOUT IN THE LAST NUMBER OF
PRESS COVERAGE IS AND REMAINS A
KEY STRATEGY.
HAVE YOU HEARD EXECUTIVE
CONSTANTINE AND DR. NGUYEN SAY,
PLEASE, IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING
WELL IF YOUR HOME AND YOUR ILL
CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
BEFORE YOU SHOW UP. WE ARE
TALKING TO THOSE HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE
ON THE PHONE AND BE SCREENED TO
SO WE DON'T CROWD THE ROOMS AT
THE CLINICS.
SOME ARE ALREADY WORKING ON ALL
THIS.
AS I SAID, WE ARE SEEING FEWER
CARS.
AS REPORTED IN THE NEWS, EVENT
THAT AMAZON AND MICROSOFT HAVE
BEEN TURNED INTO ONLINE
MEETINGS.
WE HAVE NOTED THAT SOME
RELIGIOUS SERVICES HAVE EITHER
BEEN POSTPONED OR THEY ARE
BEING DONE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
I SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE SHAKING
HANDS LESS AND DOING THE ELBOW
BUMP THE THINGS WE ARE ASKING
PEOPLE TO DO ARE DEFINITELY
DIFFERENT, BUT THEY ARE DOABLE.
YOU KNOW, WE AS PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIALS WEIGH THE POTENTIAL
BENEFITS FOR THE COMMUNITY
ALONG WITH THE SIGNIFICANT
IMPACTS IN THESE RECOMMENDATIONS
ON OUR COMMUNITY AND THE
IMPACTS ARE WEIGHED WITH OUR
ELECTED OFFICIALS.
IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CDC WE
DEVELOPED THESE RECOGNITIONS
BEST ON THE RISING NUMBER OF
CASES WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY
AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING
THESE ACTIONS NOW TO FURTHER
REDUCE TRANSMISSION.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN THE
IMPORTANCE FOR ALL OF US TO DO
OUR PART DURING THIS OUTBREAK.
AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE DR. KATHY WILKIE, OUR
STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
I'M GOING TO QUICKLY GIVE YOU A
BRIEF UPDATE ON THE STATEWIDE
COVID-19 SITUATION AND THEN I'M
GOING TO ALSO GIVE YOU A BRIEF
UPDATE ON TESTING CAPACITY HERE
IN OUR STATE.
SO, AS OF MIDNIGHT LAST NIGHT
THERE HAD BEEN A TOTAL OF 39
INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH
COVID-19 IN OUR STATE THIS
INCLUDES 31 KING COUNTY
RESIDENTS AND EIGHT SNOHOMISH
COUNTY RESIDENTS.
THAT TOTAL NUMBER OF 39
INDIVIDUALS ALSO INCLUDES 10
DEATHS. NINE OF THE INDIVIDUALS
WHO HAVE DIED OUR KING COUNTY
RESIDENTS AND ONE IS A
SNOHOMISH COUNTY RESIDENT.
NOW I'M GOING TO TURN TO GIVE
YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ABOUT
TESTING CAPACITY.
WE KNOW THAT, FIRST OF ALL, WE
KNOW THAT THERE IS A HUGE DEMAND
OUT THERE FOR TESTING.
THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE IN OUR
STATE WHO ARE SICK AND THEY
WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THEY HAVE
COVID-19 AND THEY WANT TO GET
TESTED.
I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT WE ARE
DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO
QUICKLY EXPAND TESTING CAPACITY
HERE IN OUR STATES THAT THERE
ARE A FEW THINGS THAT HAVE
HAPPENED OVER THE LAST 24
HOURS.
FIRST OF ALL, MANY OF YOU MAY
HAVE HEARD THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT RELAXED THE CRITERIA
FOR WHO CAN BE TESTED WITH THE
CDC COVID-19 ASSAY.
THIS WAS GREAT NEWS. AND,
BASICALLY, NOW ANYONE WHO HAS
SYMPTOMS THAT MAY BE CONSISTENT
WITH COVID-19 INFECTION CAN BE
TESTED.
WE ARE WORKING REALLY HARD IN
WASHINGTON TO INCREASE THE
TESTING CAPACITY.
AS I HAVE TOLD YOU BEFORE, THE
PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY IN
SHORELINE HAS THE CAPACITY NOW
TO TEST ABOUT 100 PEOPLE PER
DAY OR 200 SPECIMENS. EACH
INDIVIDUAL, GENERALLY, CEMENTS
TWO SPECIMENS.
AND WE ARE RAMPING UP THIS
CAPACITY.
WE HAVE PURCHASED EQUIPMENT.
WE HAVE TWO NEW PIECES OF
EQUIPMENT THAT SHOULD BE
DELIVERED TODAY OR TOMORROW AND
WE HAVE QUADRUPLED OUR
LABORATORY STAFF THAT ARE DOING
TESTING.
IN ADDITION, IT HAS BEEN A VERY
HIGH PRIORITY FOR US TO WORK
WITH OUR COMMERCIAL LAB PARTNERS
TO BRING ADDITIONAL TESTING
CAPACITY, TO BRING ADDITIONAL
TESTING OPACITY TO WASHINGTON.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
VIROLOGY LAB AND EXPECT THEM TO
BE RAMPING UP THEIR TEST IN THE
UPCOMING DAYS. IN ADDITION, OUR
STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY
DIRECTOR CALLED ALMOST ALL OF
THE LARGE COMMERCIAL LABS IN
OUR STATE YESTERDAY AND
ENCOURAGED THEM ALL TO START
USING COVID-19 TESTING ASSAY SO
WE CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL TESTING
CAPACITY.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT IS
ALSO HAPPENING ON THE NATIONAL
LEVEL WITH A LOT OF OUR VERY
LARGE NATIONAL LABORATORIES.
TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO ALSO BEGIN
TESTING FOR COVID-19.
CURRENTLY, WE STILL DO HAVE A
TEMPORARY CAPACITY ISSUE WITH
TESTING FOR COVID-19 HERE IN
OUR STATE. BUT WE DO NOT EXPECT
THIS TO LAST LONG BUT I REALLY
FEEL LIKE THROUGHOUT, YOU KNOW,
THE NEXT FEW DAYS WE ARE GOING
TO SEE INCREASES IN THE NUMBER
OF PATIENTS THAT WE CAN TEST
HERE BUT I JUST WANT TO
REITERATE SOME OF THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKERS SAID FOR INDIVIDUALS
WHO HAVE MILD ILLNESS YOU DON'T
ALWAYS, YOU DON'T NEED TO BE
TESTED BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THAT WE ARE POSTING
SOME NEW GUIDANCE ON OUR
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WEBSITE,
WHICH IS TWO PAGES OF
INFORMATION AROUND WHAT
INDIVIDUALS SHOULD DO IF THEY
HAVE SYMPTOMS CONSISTENT WITH
COVID-19 BUT THESE ARE A LOT OF
THE SAME MESSAGES THAT WE HAVE
BEEN REPEATING OVER AND OVER IN
THE NEWS CONFERENCES, THAT YOU
NEED TO STAY HOME FROM WORK AND
KEEP A DISTANCE FROM OTHER
PEOPLE IN THE HOUSEHOLD, MUSCLE
DON'T INFECT OTHER PEOPLE IN
THEIR HOUSEHOLDS.
AND THEY NEED TO REST AND TAKE
CARE OF THEMSELVES.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT BACK TO
JAY.
OR JAMES.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP
FOR QUESTIONS.
[ EXECUTIVE SESSION ]