Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday ordered all residents except essential workers to stay at home, the strictest measure to combat the COVID-19 outbreak in the state so far.
Inslee has been reluctant to issue such an order, even as California, New York, and other jurisdictions did. He said during a press conference Monday, "we've been thoughtful and deliberate in making these very tough choices … but people still aren't practicing these precautions and that is one of the reasons we have to take these steps."
The latest numbers from the Washington Department of Health reveal 2,221 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and 110 people have died from the virus in the state. The coronavirus is spreading rapidly across the U.S., with Washington state among the hardest hit.
The pandemic is roiling financial markets, shuttering small businesses, slashing gig economy workers' income, and forcing startups to make tough decisions.
Hours before Inslee's press conference, the Seattle-based digital cannabis brand Leafly announced 91 layoffs. The company has cut more than half of its staff this year.
Boeing began shutting down operations in the Seattle area on Monday following the death of an employee due to the virus.
Last week, The Pacific Science Center let more than 300 people go. Meanwhile, co-working startup The Riveter and clothing rental service Armoire are using a Washington state policy that lets companies put employees on a temporary layoff, which allows workers to collect unemployment benefits with the expectation to return to work.
Washington has seen some success in reducing citizens' movement by closing restaurants, bars, and recreational facilities. Large employers in the state — like Microsoft and Amazon — as well as smaller companies are asking all employees who can telecommute to do so. But cities under shelter at home orders, like San Francisco and New York, have seen a sharper decrease in activity than Seattle.
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