Inslee issues 'stay home' order due to Wash. state coronavirus outbreak; what does that mean?

Can and Can't: Go to restaurants/eateries Restaurants can stay open and provide take-out or delivery service only, you just can't dine in. — **Can and Can't: Go to restaurants/eateries**

Restaurants can stay open and provide take-out or delivery service only, you just can't dine in.
Kim Brent/The Enterprise

Can't: Gather -- at all The governor's order was very specific about gatherings -- they're banned. This means all public or private, social or recreational, spiritual or celebratory. Unfortunately, it included gatherings like weddings or funerals. It came after a weekend of pictures on social media of people congregating in parks, at beaches and seemingly flouting Gov. Jay Inslee's previous announcements where he urged people to stay away from each other. Inslee said the order could now be enforceable. However, the King County Sheriff's Office, and other law enforcement agencies, have said they won't be necessarily enforcing the order but rather "educating" people when they see them in gatherings. — **Can't: Gather -- at all**

The governor's order was very specific about gatherings -- they're banned. This means all public or private, social or recreational, spiritual or celebratory. Unfortunately, it included gatherings like weddings or funerals.

It came after a weekend of pictures on social media of people congregating in parks, at beaches and seemingly flouting Gov. Jay Inslee's previous announcements where he urged people to stay away from each other.

Inslee said the order could now be enforceable. However, the King County Sheriff's Office, and other law enforcement agencies, have said they won't be necessarily enforcing the order but rather "educating" people when they see them in gatherings.
DANIELLA BECCARIA/SEATTLEPI.COM

Can: Go to work -- if you're "essential" The significance of the stay home order was temporarily shuttering businesses that weren't essential, unless all employees could work from home. A full list of essential business and workers can be found here. There is also an option to petition your workplace or job for the list. Contrary to rumors, the governor did no declare people needed to carry around proof they were headed to work. Multiple sheriff's office also said they wouldn't necessarily enforce the order, but "educate" people they find not staying home. — **Can: Go to work -- if you're "essential"**

The significance of the stay home order was temporarily shuttering businesses that weren't essential, unless all employees could work from home.

A full list of essential business and workers can be found here. There is also an option to petition your workplace or job for the list.

Contrary to rumors, the governor did no declare people needed to carry around proof they were headed to work. Multiple sheriff's office also said they wouldn't necessarily enforce the order, but "educate" people they find not staying home.
Photo Credit: RioPatuca / Alamy Stock Photo

Can: Grocery shop This isn't a lockdown order. People are still allowed to shop for groceries any time they please as long as the stores are open. Local and health officials recommend, however, cutting down on trips to the grocery store, as limiting time away from home is the goal of the order. The state has repeatedly advised against overstocking, as supply chains are fine and people are not on lockdown -- the shelves are only empty from shoppers overstocking, according to the Washington State Department of Health. — **Can: Grocery shop**

This isn't a lockdown order. People are still allowed to shop for groceries any time they please as long as the stores are open. Local and health officials recommend, however, cutting down on trips to the grocery store, as limiting time away from home is the goal of the order.

The state has repeatedly advised against overstocking, as supply chains are fine and people are not on lockdown -- the shelves are only empty from shoppers overstocking, according to the Washington State Department of Health.
Kristina Moy

For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

Article continues below this ad

Editor's note: For a quick rundown of what you can and can't do during the stay home order, click through the gallery above.

Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday ordered all non-essential businesses to close within 48 hours and for all Washingtonians to "stay home" for the next two weeks in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“This is a human tragedy on a scale we cannot yet project. It’s time to hunker down in order to win this fight,” Inslee said during a televised announcement of the order.

Article continues below this ad

Inslee had spent the last two weeks building up to the order, by prohibiting gatherings of 250 people or more, then closing schools, then ordering bars and entertainment venues to close. However, just as they were before, certain businesses will be able to stay open -- those deemed essential. Restaurants can also continue providing take-out and delivery service, but had to close dining areas due to a previous order.

The list of essential businesses is long, and includes grocery stores, pharmacies and banks -- more can be found here. As for the stay home order, it's not quite what rumors on social media of a lockdown were promising. People can leave their homes for essential activities which include grocery shopping, doctor appointments and if they work at an essential business. Inslee said people can also go outside for a walk or a run, as long as they maintain six feet of distance from everybody.

All gatherings were banned, including private, public, social, spiritual and recreational -- which means weddings and funerals are no longer allowed.

The order followed similar actions already taken in California, New York and Washington cities like Everett and Edmonds. Like those, Washington will be shuttering certain businesses and urging people to stay home.

Article continues below this ad

"Make no mistake," Inslee said. "This order is enforceable by law."

The King County Sheriff's Office in a news release said it will not be enforcing the order.

"The Governor is not asking law enforcement, including the King County Sheriff's Office, to actively enforce the stay at home order and we see no need to do so," the release said. "Instead, if our deputies see banned gatherings, we will take an educational approach and remind people of the current restrictions issued by the Governor."

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn was one of the first local officials to voice support for the order.

Article continues below this ad

“I am fully supportive of the Governor’s decision to issue a ‘stay at home’ order. This is a critical public health decision and it will give our community a stronger tool to slow the spread of COVID-19," Dunn said in a news release. "While this order puts a burden on every one of us, the sacrifices our community makes today will be rewarded in lives saved in the near future.”

As of Monday, the death toll in Washington state reached over 100, and the confirmed cases were tallied by the Washington State Department of Health at 2,221. King County accounted for over half the state's cases with 1,170 confirmed and 87 deaths.

Article continues below this ad

Stay positive: Here are 23 pieces of good news regarding COVID-19

Coronavirus updates: King County reaches 1,170, Inslee issues stay-at-home order, Boeing shuts down

Which Seattle attractions and landmarks are closed, open amid COVID-19 outbreak?

This new service links parents in need with vetted childcare

Article continues below this ad

A full guide of where, how Seattle students can get free lunches

A guide to Seattle restaurants now offering take-out, delivery