On Monday evening, March 23rd, Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced he has signed a statewide order that requires everyone in the state to stay home. The order will last for two weeks and could be extended.
The Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is similar to orders that other governors from a growing number of states have issued over the last week in response to escalating COVID-19 cases and spiking numbers of death.
The proclamation will:
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Require every Washingtonian to stay home unless they need to pursue an essential activity.
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Ban all gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational purposes.
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Close all businesses except essential businesses.
“The less time we spend in public, the more lives we will save,” Inslee said.
Also, on Monday, Inslee and other governors sent a letter to the White House urging President Donald J. Trump to expand unemployment benefits essential to many workers who are impacted by stay home, stay healthy orders.