VIDEO: Governor Inslee, Trudi Inslee address state on COVID-19

5:30 PM: Just under way in Olympia, Governor Jay Inslee and the state’s first lady Trudi Inslee have a message for you about the surging COVID-19 pandemic. Watch live (and later, archived) above; we’ll add notes as it goes.

“We have to rethink the holidays,” he begins, saying his family will share the holidays “virtually.” But, he promises, “we’re only going to have to do this once … We’re optimistic that Thanksgiving 2021 will be the best ever. But this year, it’s just too dangerous.” Scrapping plans to gather in person “is an act of love,” he says. “Please don’t gather with people outside your household … Our weekly number of COVID cases has doubled in the past two weeks … We’re in a time of exponential growth.” He says some “further measures” to tamp down the pandemic will be announced “in the past few days,” but right now, he says, what you do in your personal life matters the most.

“We’re all fatigued, and it’s OK to feel not OK right now,” Trudi Inslee says. The governor urges “difficult conversations” with relatives if that’s what it takes. “This is a temporary situation … we WILL get back to normal,” he reiterates.

They conclude the 7-minute address by thanking everyone in the state for “having (each other’s) back.”

5:58 PM: Archived video of the address is now playable above.

Mellow Kitty November 12, 2020 (5:38 pm)

Stay safe, neighbors ❤️ we will get through this!

HS November 12, 2020 (5:43 pm)

Can I be the first to say that TVW drives me nuts? when feed delays only let you see the final 30 seconds ;/

WSB November 12, 2020 (5:59 pm)

It’s archived now. I’ve noticed lately that some refreshes are usually required.

Dm November 12, 2020 (8:20 pm)

I’m hoping everyone will take Governor Inslee’s plea to heart. The only way this awful disease will slow down is if we all make a point of keeping ourselves safe, our families safe, and our communities safe. Please mask up and limit your exposure to other people now, and through the holidays, until we have an effective vaccine. That’s the best way to stay safe and get our economy going again. I dont want any more folks to become ill or die, I don’t want any more businesses to go under, and I don’t want us to completely exhaust our already exhausted medical community.

Lisab November 12, 2020 (8:56 pm)

Beautifully stated!!

BetteDavisEyes November 12, 2020 (9:19 pm)

A 40-ish woman was shopping nonchalantly without a mask this morning at Westwood QFC. According to the Chief Medical Officer of the American Lung Association, the only adults who are truly unable to wear a mask due to a medical condition are, in fact, so sick that they are not able to engage in normal activity. These people are certainly not able to briskly push a shopping cart through QFC. It’s inexcusable. Just stop it.

Alki resident November 12, 2020 (9:44 pm)

You don’t know her situation, get off your soapbox.
Tiffany November 12, 2020 (10:11 pm)

I will not shop at Westwood QFC any longer. They do not enforce mask wearing, they’ve taken away the one-way isles, and just two days ago my bagger sneezed into her mask with her hand. She did not stop to sanitize. She grabbed my produce and continued on. I was BLOWN away (no freaking pun intended). There was also a younger checker just behind her at the self checkout. He had his mask around his chin, drinking his drink, and blowing his nose repeatedly. Even outside of a national pandemic…not ok.
Donna November 12, 2020 (11:23 pm)

Um no. I can’t wear a mask because I was suffocated as a child so the pressure on my face from a mask makes me hyperventilate. I’m definitely well enough otherwise to do regular activities. Google “trauma response to masks” and you will find I’m not the only one. Assumptions like yours are incorrect, hurtful and dangerous. And for the record, I wear other types of face coverings on the rare occasions when inside a business but more importantly socially distance, keep my immune system strong and minimize my time inside buildings that aren’t my home.
- BetteDavisEyes November 13, 2020 (12:11 am)
  
  Donna, thank you for kindly reminding us there is an exception to every rule, but that being the exception doesn’t grant one the right to endanger others. As a responsible, mature adult, you take precautions to protect both yourself and others by wearing an appropriate, alternative face covering when inside a business – I’m sorry you’ve suffered trauma and I appreciate you and the example you set by finding ways to still be safe. My frustration is clearly not with you, as you seem to have actually gone to additional effort to still do the right thing. I’m frustrated with those who either pretend to be exceptions or who feel their situation gives them free rein to endanger everyone else without making any effort at all. I wish you continued safety and good health.
  - I Prefer Animals November 13, 2020 (1:39 am)
    
    So many businesses offer other options for people who can’t or won’t wear a mask for whatever reason. Curbside pick-up, delivery, online ordering, etc. There is absolutely no excuse for any person to enter any business during a raging pandemic without a mask, especially with these other options available. These mask-less people put others at extreme risk, others who are doing the right thing to protect themselves and others. It’s pretty simple…businesses are requiring masks to enter. If you can’t or don’t want to, then that’s your choice. But respect the mask policy and please shop online and get your things delivered or pick up at curbside.
    - Donna November 13, 2020 (12:57 pm)
      
      I’m doing all of that, did you read my original comment?
  - Donna November 13, 2020 (12:57 pm)
    
    Thank you, I appreciate your reply.
- flimflam November 13, 2020 (8:01 am)
  
  i understand your position, but that doesn’t mean you should be permitted to shop without a mask – either order online, have someone shop for you or at least get one of those face shields – your unease with wearing a mask doesn’t give you any special privileges to potentially harm others.
  - Donna November 13, 2020 (12:56 pm)
    
    I wear a hooded face shield, ie an alternative face covering that I mentioned in my first comment. Did you read my original comment before responding?
- WSMom November 13, 2020 (4:53 pm)
  
  Donna, wear a face shield then.

anonyme November 13, 2020 (5:08 am)

I’ve endured some extreme trauma in my life but I would never use it as a justification to not wear a mask. It’s not about YOU. I’m also claustrophobic, so I limit my time in public to how long I can endure wearing a mask. If you have any condition that absolutely prevents you from doing so, you should stay home. Period. There is NO excuse. None. There is no health or mental condition that justifies risking someone else’s life.

Anne November 13, 2020 (6:59 am)

Wear a mask or a clear face shield-many versions of which are now widely available.Back in March that wasn’t the case. If someone truly can’t wear any type of face covering -I would plead with them to please get help shopping from family/friends.Maybe delivery would be an option-or order online or by phone & pick up-there are many options that weren’t available in March. I’m truly sorry for those that really can’t wear a mask-but unfortunately that doesn’t mean you can’t have /spread COVID. If we all do the simplest of things like face protection -maybe-just maybe we won’t get shut completely down again-no one wants that. There’s an ad running on tv/radio- “not forever, but for now” -I try to keep that in mind & hope our collective actions will make it so.

Stickerbush November 13, 2020 (11:21 am)

I don’t get wearing a face shield instead of a mask. A face shield does not protect the wearer from breathing droplets or aerosolized viruses. And though it may stop projection of some droplets from the wearer, it doesn’t prevent them from getting into the air.
- Anne November 13, 2020 (1:26 pm)
  
  I don’t know -but have seen health care workers wearing just a shield-maybe someone in that profession could answer that?

AmandaK November 13, 2020 (7:26 am)

Just a reminder, you can report businesses that are not in compliance with the state’s Safe Start program here: https://coronavirus.wa.gov/report-safe-start-violation

flimflam November 13, 2020 (8:21 am)

i found the address a bit strange – not sure what the point was unless someone is so out of touch they didn’t realize there was a spike of cases happening. not sure i believe anyone will change their holiday plans because he asked them to, either. frankly i was hoping for restrictions – reopening hasn’t worked.

Stickerbush November 13, 2020 (11:23 am)

I think the address was the carrot before the stick and there will be further restrictions, probably late next week.
- Anne November 13, 2020 (1:27 pm)
  
  Exactly!
sam-c November 13, 2020 (12:17 pm)

I thought it was really weird too. But, thought maybe since it was the 2-week mark before T’giving, it was the ‘hey, don’t go anywhere for T’giving, but IF YOU MUST, stay quarantined until then…..’
- flimflam November 13, 2020 (12:45 pm)
  
  sam-c, yes the exact two week date before Thanksgiving was likely a factor, as well at addressing the situation publicly. still think it was odd but what do i know? lol.
  - WSB November 13, 2020 (12:50 pm)
    
    The Inslees specifically mentioned – as did the state/local health authorities who spoke on Tuesday – that if you absolutely had to see someone on Thanksgiving, everyone involved should quarantine for two weeks in advance, which meant starting yesterday.

Mj November 13, 2020 (10:53 am)

flimflam – reopening has prevented an all out depression. Shutting things down earlier this year provided the time to better understand the virus, determine treatments et al. Sticking with Phase 2 restrictions is the best option. Certainly if there is a specific outbreak it should be dealt with specifically, not on a global basis.

Stickerbush November 13, 2020 (11:27 am)

I think it depends on how the health care system is holding up. I don’t see how we can keep on as we have been if hospital beds are filling up with covid patients. There has to be a threshold where we need to go back to Phase 1. I’m not sure what that threshold is but it should be based on hospitalizations and not the number of positive tests.

heartless November 13, 2020 (11:52 am)

How, pray tell, does one deal with a “specific outbreak” “specifically”? Unless you want to ban travel and impose restrictions of movement this country hasn’t seen since the internment camps, I’m not really sure what your options are.

Conservatives are always fighting against restrictions that would help rein in the virus, and it baffles me why they downplay the larger picture–the longer this lingers the worse everything gets, economy included.

A November 13, 2020 (2:05 pm)

Instead of banning Thanksgiving in the name of “safety” can’t we let people decide for themselves if they want to take the risk of catching covid to be with their families? What is Inslee going to say to the thousands of people who skip Thanksgiving this year to protect grandma only to have grandma die in a few months from old age and now that family missed out on their last Thanksgiving with grandma because of Inslee. Shouldn’t grandma be able to decide for herself if she wants to take the risk? We aren’t guaranteed next year, especially the elderly so we should be able to decide for ourselves how we want to do Thanksgiving. I’m pretty tired of Inslee and these other dictator governors acting like they are our daddy

Dm November 13, 2020 (8:30 pm)

Dear A, as I understand it, Inslee was suggesting that if you absolutely must have a Thanksgiving family get together, you all should begin a self quarantine now before you all meet up. You can do that. It’s not just your grandmother that you should worry about, it’s your other family members as well. And when the holiday is over, you should mask up and continue to help keep our community safe. I feel Inslee is asking us to do the right thing. We’re all dependent on one another to keep each other safe, and this may be necessary for a few more months.
Foop November 13, 2020 (9:02 pm)

Because we don’t care if you choose to suffer Covid, but we do care that your utter stupidity and selfishness spread it to countless others who are trying to do the right thing until we get a vaccine out there and we can reopen everything. People like you are the reason west seattle and white center have now seen 5 closures and a good back in closed. People need to knock off this grabby selfish behavior and realize that the more responsible we are the more we can continue going about life as normal, with some caveats (distance, masks, etc.). Too many jerks flaunting the rules, having gatherings and spreading this virus, just watch when we have to shut down bars and gyms again because people are too bothered to wear a mask.

Mj November 13, 2020 (3:03 pm)

If there is a outbreak in a specific zip code for example all non essential activities in that zip code could be locked down, it’s not perfect but is better than shutting everything down. And now that there is a vaccine pending creating a depression is not necessary.

LP November 13, 2020 (10:07 pm)

Yes, a targeted response is much more effective and less damaging than blanket lockdowns. Why is this method not considered by those in charge?
- heartless November 14, 2020 (8:19 am)
  
  Here are two quick reasons, off the top of my head:
  
  1. Because people can spread the virus without showing any symptoms, and think, for a moment, how people–on these comment boards, for example–would respond if the government decided to lock down a specific zip code.
  
  2. People here threw absolute fits about a small stretch of a street being closed to through traffic–do you think they wouldn’t flout and complain and moan about any form of zip-code specific lockdown?

Junction November 13, 2020 (5:22 pm)

I suggest everyone monitor the King County Health Indicator regularly. Link is below. While it shows cases skyrocketing because this happens every year at this time with colds and flu, the reproductive rate is near 1 and proportion of hospital beds with covid patients is extremely low. I know, you will say “but there is a lag”! Well, the lag in hospitalizations and deaths never materialized after the last spike in cases (look at the graph on the link), so what does that tell us? The virus is not as lethal as everyone is freaking out about. I can’t believe the comments I am reading. You people are full blown panicked about a 99.9% survival rate. No, I don’t want this virus. I don’t want any virus! But we have to work, go to school and not stay locked up forever. This is all so bogus. https://public.tableau.com/views/KeyIndicators_15905400757720/PHSKCKeyIndicators?+%3Aembed=y&%3Atoolbar=n&%3Adisplay_count=n&%3AshowShareOptions=n&%3AshowVizHome=n&%3Amobile=true

person November 13, 2020 (7:33 pm)

The number of hospital beds with Covid patients is going up, in October it was 2% or less and now it’s up to 3.5% . The total beds occupied has risen also, it’s now at 77.1% up from around 75% last month. Also, I hope it is 99.9% survivable, but the reports say that 2.5% of all positive cases have resulted in death. And if there are no hospital beds available then the number of cases resulting in death will go up even higher.

Sorry, comment time is over.