Officials recommend 'social distancing,' working from home
EVERETT — Local health experts on Thursday issued new recommendations for slowing the spread of COVID-19 — urging residents to avoid or cancel large gatherings, among other measures — and said there are now 18 cases of the new coronavirus in Snohomish County.
At a news conference here, the Snohomish Health District’s health officer Dr. Chris Spitters said residents should practice smart personal hygiene as well as “social distancing,” which means avoiding unnecessary contact or close proximity with others. He also recommended that group gatherings of more than 50 people be avoided or canceled. The larger the group and the closer the contact, the more risk of infection, he said.
Acknowledging the recommendations may cause difficulty for many, Spitters also called on businesses to allow employees to work from home, avoid holding large meetings and to maximize sick leave benefits to allow employees who are ill to stay home. On Thursday, an increasing number of institutions, including the Boeing Co. and several senior centers, closed or took other voluntary measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
Health officials, however, are not mandating closures, despite growing calls from some that schools be shut down.
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Maybe we should all wear self contained bubble suits.