When can workers return to work in Washington State?
The short answer: possibly the 8th, but more than likely the stay-at-home order will be extended into the end of April.
Obviously this is a tricky question. Grocery stores and other essential businesses have remained in work. We’re seeing some businesses like Goodwill tell employees that they will be out of work and on standby until at least the 8th. Their CEO Darryl Campbell told the Seattle branch that this could be longer, depending on when governor Jay Inslee opens the doors for nonessential businesses to return to work. The company recently paid all Seattle area employees for two weeks to stay at home, costing the organization over 3 million dollars.
Darryl stressed to his employees that the organization was hoping the two weeks would be all that is needed, but after the state went into further lock-down, that time has been stretched. Their employees will be able to stay on staff while also collecting unemployment from the state.
We’ve also seen pot, tobacco, and alcohol stores stay open, being deemed an essential, I suppose it might be an essential for those with addictions. These stores have seen a spike in sales, according to the Seattle Times.
Construction workers have been told to hold off work on residential buildings until the 8th of April after Jay Inslee issued an official guidance that “construction is not considered an essential activity” in the stay-at-home order he announced.
Some constructions crews are continuing work at reduced hours. I spoke with one private construction company working on the Olympic Peninsula. I was told they are allowed to maintain work sites, and to continue work until their area is secure. If that means after the 8th, then so be it. When I spoke with the foreman, I was told they were about to start a job that was structural, which qualifies the task as essential.
April the 8th was looking like the end of our stay-at-home order, but only a week in, our governor said he’ll be looking extending that. The short answer, possibly the 8th, but more than likely the stay-at-home order will be extended into the end of April.
Our nations top infectious expert said this on Sunday:
“Looking at what we’re seeing now, you know, I would say between 100,000 and 200,000 cases But I don't want to be held to that, because -- excuse me, deaths. We’re going to have millions of cases,” Fauci said.
So it’s no wonder our governor is ruminating on the idea of extending Stay-at-Home. Let’s just hope we can flatten the curve in time to catch the economy before it bottoms out. We might just get that. We’re noticing some good news: Italy reports lowest number of new cases for 2 weeks. The imperial College professor says there are signs the trend is slowing in the UK. And New UK deaths have declined 3 days in a row. That’s good news!
