3:40 PM: Gov. Inslee‘s first media briefing of the week has just begun, on the day that the first part of his four-phase reopening plan is under way. So what’s next? We’ll add notes as it goes.
“We still have a long way to go … but our recovery is moving forward,” he said, noting that guidance is being drafted for more businesses/activities to resume. He says he’s announcing “three advisory groups (with) a really diverse group of voices (to) help inform our decision-making.” He says each group will be a “forum” for his office to “consult with.” One is a health-care/health-systems group. Another will focus on “safe work and economic recovery.” And there’ll be a “social supports group” focusing on the need for food, shelter, etc.
3:48 PM: The governor introduces Jessyn Farrell, who will be a lead on the “safe work and economic recovery” group. She is a former state legislator who ran for Seattle mayor three years ago. She notes that some parts of the workforce were already “fragile” even pre-pandemic. She’s followed by other reps of the new groups, who each make a few remarks before giving the mic back to the governor – who is taking a two-minute break “to give one decision to someone.”
3:54 PM: He’s back and it’s reporter Q&A time. First one – has he decided on reconvening the Legislature to deal with the coming budget crisis? No decision yet but it’s likely, he says, to deal with an “enormous hole.”
Next, he’s asked about the lawsuit saying COVID-19 is no longer a crisis. He says that viewpoint is “biologically ignorant.” He says his decisions have been made “to preserve health, and life itself.”
How formal will the new advisory groups’ recommendations be? It’ll be “an organic process,” he says, later adding that the groups themselves will work out the best way to circulate/distribute them.
Next: What about the other activities/businesses listed for Phase 1 (landscaping, curbside retail, dog walking, etc.)? They’ll have “protocols” by week’s end, “just a few days,” the governor says.
4 PM: He’s asked about officials who are speaking out against the stay-home order. He says that if they saw “the tears” of the families who’ve lost loved ones, they might feel differently. He stresses that the “vast majority” of people “get this.” Asked about a potential second wave of COVID-19 infections, he says vigilance is vital. Also, he reiterates that the state is still short on supplies for testing, which is “absolutely vital” to moving on. He says they’re also hopeful that antibody testing will be usable soon but “it’s very important to realize that (they are no guarantee) of immunity.” He also says you can’t read a lot into the number of new positive tests, because as they test more people, they’re inevitably going to get more positive results, so there are other metrics they’re watching closely.
4:10 PM: The briefing is over; we’ll add any links that follow with details.
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