Saying it’s necessary to minimize the spread of the coronavirus, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday issued an emergency proclamation for three counties prohibiting events that attract 250 or more people, including churches, concerts, festivals and sporting events.
The proclamation impacts the larger Seattle area of King County and the counties to the north and south of the city: Pierce and Snohomish. It does not affect schools – at least not yet.
More than 260 people in Washington state have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and 24 have died. Inslee said it’s likely that hundreds more people have it but don’t know it.
He acknowledged his order will be “profoundly disturbing” to citizens’ lives but said it is essential to slow and stop the spread.
“Starting today, I am ordering, in pursuant to my emergency powers, that certain events in King, Snohomish and Pierce County, with more than 250 people, are prohibited by order of the governor,” he said at a press conference. “These events that are prohibited are gatherings for social, recreational, spiritual and other matters, including but not limited to community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, sporting events, parades, concerts, festivals, conventions, fundraisers and similar activities.”
The health and well-being of Washingtonians during the COVID-19 outbreak remains our top priority.
— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) March 11, 2020
Starting today, we will prohibit events of more than 250 people in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties to slow the spread of this virus. pic.twitter.com/U1wOf0paIW
The three counties were chosen because they are “experiencing significant community transmission, significant outbreaks, and they are large population centers,” Inslee said.
The prohibition, he added, “could be expanded in the days to come.”
“This is an extremely dangerous event that we are facing. But we are not helpless,” Inslee said. “We have the ability to seize our own destiny and the safety of our loved ones by acting to do what is necessary and effective in reducing the rate of the spread of this epidemic.
“This is an effective tactic,” he added.
“... All it requires is the will of active people to follow science – and confidence that we're all in this together,” he said.
The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the COVID-19 crisis a global pandemic.
Meanwhile, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday urged – but did not order – church services to stop meeting this week and the following week, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
“I know that’s a big step, I know that some people won’t agree with it, but I believe it’s our job to offer those protections,” Beshear said.
He also urged citizens to stay away from large crowds.
Photo courtesy: Sandro Gonzalez/Unsplash
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
