A pedestrian wearing a mask walks past paintings featuring lungs and a tree by Burgandy Viscosi on the boarded-up Re-Bar nightclub and theatre Tuesday, April 14, 2020, in downtown Seattle. Streets and sidewalks in the area were quiet Tuesday as most people in the city are staying and working at home due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

A pedestrian wearing a mask walks past paintings featuring lungs and a tree by Burgandy Viscosi on the boarded-up Re-Bar nightclub and theatre Tuesday, April 14, 2020, in downtown Seattle. Streets and sidewalks in the area were quiet Tuesday as most people in the city are staying and working at home due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

‘New normal’: distancing, masks likely needed for months

By Rachel La Corte | Associated Press

OLYMPIA — Even once the broad restrictions currently in place in Washington state in response to the coronavirus are lifted, health officials said Tuesday that for months to come the “new normal” will continue to look a lot like daily life does now: teleworking, physical distancing and use of masks in public.

Health Secretary John Wiesman said because the virus won’t be able to be stopped or contained until there are treatments and a vaccine, the goal is to make sure that once the state starts to see a decline of cases, “that we do our best not to spring back.”

“How we go about our daily lives, we’re not going to return to what we knew before COVID-19 for many, many months,” he said. “It’s going to be a new normal, one that is much more aware of safety and biosecurity.”

More than 10,500 people in Washington state have tested positive for the virus and at least 516 have died. The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in most patients, and the vast majority recover. But it is highly contagious and can be spread by those who appear healthy and can cause severe illness and death in some patients, particularly the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

Lead volunteer Joyce Chua, right, is assisted by Olivia Sanderfoot as they sort medical equipment donated at a drive-up location at the University of Washington to help fight the coronavirus outbreak Tuesday, April 14, 2020, in Seattle. (Elaine Thompson/The Associated Press)

Lead volunteer Joyce Chua, right, is assisted by Olivia Sanderfoot as they sort medical equipment donated at a drive-up location at the University of Washington to help fight the coronavirus outbreak Tuesday, April 14, 2020, in Seattle. (Elaine Thompson/The Associated Press)

Dr. Kathy Lofy, state health officer, said that statewide, things have plateaued over the past few weeks, and a she cited a new study by the Institute for Disease Modeling that showed that in three counties — Pierce, King and Snohomish — the rate of transmission was significantly reduced following the implementation of social distancing practices.

“While we are seeing some good signs, unfortunately we are not yet seeing a clear decline in COVID-19 activity throughout the entire state,” she said.

Washington state’s stay-at-home order, which has already been extended once, is currently in place through May 4, though Gov. Jay Inslee has warned that it is possible the order may have to be extended once again.

Wiesman said that while details on how the order will be lifted are still being worked out, there will probably be partial easing of some of the restrictions, including possibly businesses opening with reduced occupancy so that social distancing can be maintained.

“I would imagine that we would modify some of these, hold for a period of time and watch the data to see if the data are saying that we’re still stabilizing or if we’re seeing any hot spots anywhere,” he said. “It will be, in my mind, probably a series of sequential kind of modifications.”

More in News

Clallam commissioners to allocate opioid funding for health supplies

Board also approves funding for Port Angeles infrastructure project

Officials report fireworks-related incidents

Storage building a total loss, fire chief says

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at the Port Angeles transfer station on Sunday. (Port Angeles Fire Department)
Firefighters put out fire at Port Angeles landfill

Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions extinguished a fire in the… Continue reading

Fire District 3 responds to 65 calls during weekend

Firefighters from Fire District 3 responded to a high volume… Continue reading

Legal aid clinic set for July 19

The Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers will conduct a… Continue reading

Children pick up candy along the parade route in Forks on Friday during the Forks Old Fashioned 4th of July Parade. (Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News)
Festivities on the Fourth

Children pick up candy along the parade route in Forks on Friday… Continue reading

A new parking lot next to the Sequim Civic Center will be completed by the end of the summer, according to Sequim city staff. The city purchased three lots adjacent to the center in June 2022 to convert the properties into a parking lot. The lots also were known for common calls to 911. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim sets its list of projects

Summer work includes paving streets

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

Security exercise set for Wednesday at Indian Island

Naval Magazine Indian Island will conduct a security training… Continue reading

Project SAFER aims to help those with disabilities

Form identifies sensitivities for law enforcement officers

Summer meal programs help out families in Jefferson County

Jefferson Healthcare and Jefferson County Food Bank Association offer assistance

Violinist Kristian Bugge plays traditional Danish folk songs with Fiddle Tunes found Bertram Levy, July 2. (ELIJAH SUSSMAN/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS)
Fiddle Tunes fill the air at Fort Worden

Traditions flourish, musical and otherwise