Washington State Probable Shutdown

Washington State Probable Shutdown

Delayed Actions By Governor Inslee

Threatens Washington

Everyone in Washington is aware of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) threat that has devastated much of the world's economies, killed thousands of people, and is now here in the United States, spreading rapidly. Washington State has the 2nd worst case of infection but the highest deaths within the United States.

To his credit, Governor Inslee has made significant steps to protect Washington residents in the past few weeks, but it's not enough, not anymore. Today's video presentation of the Governor addressing the State of Washington demonstrated a difficult choice: Ask residents to self-quarantine, or force resident to quarantine.

Governor Inslee addresses the state and media (starts at 8:15 mark)

The indecisive nature of the Governor's presentation is disturbing with the known facts about the rapid spread of the contagion, the number of people presently infected, and the very high likelihood that the United States will soon be mostly shut down throughout the nation.

The reason why such drastic measures must be taken is because there are still large numbers of people who have disregarded the warnings and have refused to change their daily behavior, enabling the spread of the virus. Numerous people continue to ignore the clear warnings and how their behavior poses a dangerous threat to themselves and everyone around them.

Since each person, nationwide, is a potential carrier and a potential victim of the virus, the coronavirus has continued to spread with ease throughout the population (worldwide). At this time, there are tens of thousands of infected persons within the United States, and hundreds of thousands in other countries, soon to be millions. In another few weeks, it is fully expected for there to be many more thousands of deaths in the US, and an even greater spread of the virus within the general population. The situation is clearly out of control.

This is not hyperbole, these are the present estimates from the nation's top experts. Two hospital ships are being deployed to both coasts to help with the enormous strain on the nation's medical system, which is already severely overwhelmed with cases and patients. Decisions will be made as the case load rises on who will be chosen to receive medical treatment and care, including ventilators, and who will not. These discussions are happening RIGHT NOW.

Please watch - Emergency room doctor tells it like it already is in the United States: 

This is a terrifying ordeal for all Americans, which is precisely why indecision is what isn't needed. Despite the pressure from Federal, State and local governments, it is the responsibility of the State Governor to everything possible to ensure the health and safety of the citizens within the State. And we desperately need comprehensive competent leadership at the Federal level immediately.

I would not want to be in his position right now. He's facing a State population that is both scared and doubtful, with far too many people of all ages not taking this pandemic seriously enough. Employers are demanding employees show up for work, while workers are torn between a paycheck and self-protecting themselves and their families. The Governor HAS asked both employers and employees, and all State citizens to stay home voluntarily, and has clearly warned that if this does not happen, then stronger measures will be taken.

Such measures have already been taken by California and New York, where state-wide shut downs have been issued for over 71 MILLION people for the same reasons - voluntary compliance did not work. It is not working here either, and residents MUST be ordered to stay home.

Lacking this fundamental change in behavior guarantees a protracted, extremely difficult future for everyone. Thousands, even millions could die, or be reinfected, ensuring a continual supply of human hosts for the virus.

From the horrifying examples of what was seen and experienced in China, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Brazil, Iran, South Korea, England and other countries of the world - the ONLY thing that slows the rate of infections down on this highly contagious virus is to both "socially distance" yourself and to avoid going into public places. This includes any and all public places, including the work environment.

Only critical and essential infrastructure and services should be left in operation. Communications, medical treatment and care, transportation, utilities and supermarkets and fuel deliveries. These are the essential components everyone needs, but almost everyone else is being asked to STAY HOME.

A shut down is not martial law. Citizens are being asked to "shelter in place" at home. You are being asked, politely for the moment, to stay at home, with the following exceptions:

Residents are to remain in place except for essential activities, with the following exemptions:

Task to maintain health and safety, going to the doctor or pharmacy, getting necessary supplies, pet food and supplies, engaging in outdoor activities, maintain a 6ft spacing between people, caring for another family member in another household, caring for the elderly or infirm or other vulnerable persons.

The shelter order does NOT apply to those going to work in essential business or government function, health care operations, including home care, essential infrastructure, including house construction, operation of public transportation, utilities, grocery stores, food banks, convenience stores, businesses for necessities of life for economically disadvantaged, auto repair, gas stations, garbage collection, hardware stores, plumbers, electricians, sanitation and essential operations of essential businesses, educational institutions, laundromats, delivery of groceries, child care facilities for essential employees going to work, and maintain basic operations.

You're still allowed to maintain essential life activities, but some freedoms have been curtailed. If you work in a non-essential business or activity, you stay home. You can still go to the store, still buy gas, you can still get your car fixed and so on. Otherwise, you stay home and we all wait this out.

It is likely, but not certain, that even these measure will not be enough - provided the citizenry either refuses to obey these orders, or that these orders prove to be insufficient.

Following state-wide shut down orders, is martial law, where the military is utilized to assist with State activities and efforts to contain the virus, prohibiting travel by all persons except those who are authorized. Suspension of Constitutional rights will worsen to the point of being non-existent under these temporary measures.

Washington NEEDS to avoid this drastic step if at all possible, but it demands the voluntary cooperation of all persons, all employers, both the young and the old. Failure to do so will kill thousand of the aged and the those with underlying health conditions. But the virus killer does not stop there, a significant percentage of people between 20 and 44 years old (38%) become severely ill after contracting the virus, requiring ventilators to breath.

There are not enough medical personnel, nor doctors and nurses, or ventilators or beds to meet the expected case load within the State, or anywhere else in the nation. Already, hospitals are pleading for equipment, assistance and personnel to deal with the rapidly rising case load. Doctors and nurses are running on exhaustion already. Every front line position is being overwhelmed trying to deal with this virus. This is truly terrifying for us all, a global crisis of enormous proportions.

Dentist and being asked to reduce their consumption of supplies and equipment, appointments to essential care only, elective surgeries have been cancelled across the nation, and if anyone becomes ill, injured or in need of care at the height of this epidemic for any reason, it may not be available to you.

Borders have been closed with Canada, and numerous countries around the world in a desperate attempt to stop the contagion. So far, nothing has actually worked - and there is no cure. There is no vaccine, no guaranteed methodology of treatment and care, that will ensure anyone infected of survival. People of all ages have sickened and died, from mere hours to a few weeks, with most vulnerable of our population being the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

Don't think that because you are young and healthy that "you will be ok", there is no guarantee of that. You can be asymptomatic (show no symptoms, and suffer no ill effects) while infecting everyone around you, literally killing them. You can also get sick very rapidly and if there is no medical care or hospital beds available to you, you either recover or die at home. That is exactly what happened in China, Iran, Italy as their medical system literally collapsed. That medical system is now collapsing right here, in the United States.

Pay attention - this is VERY serious. Italy has 3.2 hospital beds per 1000 people, the US has 2.8. The medical system in Italy has collapsed. Horrifying decision are being made, choosing who among the seriously ill will be given treatment, a ventilator and care, and who will not. Videos and pictures from Italy show a very grim situation as military trucks in convey haul out the dead. All funerals, weddings have been cancelled. The United States has already enacted "death visitation" rights only to family members allowing only a single visit to those who are dying.

If you are not scared and now alert, you should be. My point is not to frighten, but to ask for voluntary cooperation for the public good and the safety, and very future of our State and Nation.

The situation is grave and very serious. Stopping the virus requires ending the cycle of contagion, as it moves from human-to-human. That requires us all to stay home, hundreds of millions of us, State by State. 

The Governor has to make a difficult decision, but it is for the future of this State, and the nation, that it must be made immediately.

In the meantime, you are strongly advised to take these warnings with utmost seriousness and stay home. Tell your children, your spouse, your parents and even your friends, we must all cooperate in this national emergency, otherwise we really do not know what will be on the other side of this, the "worst case" that can be envisioned.

Nobody wants to go there, and it is up to each of us to put a stop to the transmission of the virus.

I also recommend Dr John Campbell's common sense videos, well worth watching:

https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---20-march-2020

https://gothamist.com/news/gov-cuomo-announces-stay-home-order-new-york-state-pause

https://www.cbs17.com/news/italy-sees-biggest-day-to-day-rise-in-coronavirus-deaths/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/20/coronavirus-live-updates-outbreak-deaths-italy-uk-us-australia-europe-vaccine-china-global-economy-toll-latest-update-news

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/20/coronavirus-who-says-health-systems-collapsing-this-isnt-just-a-bad-flu-season.html

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-brazil-health-syst/brazil-health-system-will-collapse-by-the-end-of-april-health-minister-idUSKBN21737A

https://kyma.com/news/2020/03/20/italy-cal