Dear Internetking:
I know these have been difficult times for so many across the Seventh Congressional District as we have felt the increasing direct impacts of COVID-19. My goal has been to keep you as updated as possible on federal, state, and local response efforts through these newsletters and my virtual briefings and tele-townhalls; to help answer the questions you may have; and to try and address the individual issues you are dealing with through my constituent services team.
Let's keep the conversation going. Please join me tomorrow (Wednesday, March 25th) at 5pm PT for a Video Briefing with Kirsten Wysen of Seattle and King County Public Health.
You can watch online at
facebook.com/repjayapal or dial in at the number below:
I also want to share some important updates and personal thoughts below.
The Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Packages in Congress
It is my hope that Congress will soon pass a third coronavirus aid package to provide urgent relief to those who need it most. Negotiations are still underway, and I am working to ensure the package includes real and immediate support for working people and families, small businesses, and worker-centered relief for industries. Last week, I and my fellow Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chair, Rep. Mark Pocan — on behalf of our almost 100 CPC members —
put forward a unified list of progressive priorities that we wanted included in this third piece of coronavirus stimulus.
These priorities build on the first two pieces of emergency legislation that Congress has already passed, which included funding for our local and state public health departments, support for additional COVID-19 testing and some paid and sick leave for a number of Americans impacted by the pandemic. The priorities also reflect numerous conversations that I and my staff have had with many of you across the district as part of our intentional outreach to many different sectors of our community and economy. These conversations have included small and large businesses, the Port of Seattle, labor unions, hospitals, local and county elected officials, immigrant organizations, individual workers and constituents, and many social safety net, nonprofit and arts organizations, among others. We hope to have this package finished very quickly. However, because it is a $1.5 to $2 trillion package, we have a responsibility to ensure that it is completely worker-centered, that it is does not simply provide a blank check to the largest corporations and CEOs without strict conditions, and that it does not — even after the crisis is over — lead to a deepening of inequality.
Specifically, I believe this next legislative package must:
COVID-19 Testing and Personal Protective Equipment
Washington state is quickly ramping up testing capacity each week. As of March 23, Washington has conducted almost 34,000 tests, with more than 2,000 people testing positive and very sadly, 110 fatalities. These numbers show how serious the situation is, and I know there continues to be frustration and anxiety around the fact that we still do not have widespread testing occurring. That means that the testing must be preserved for the most vulnerable, frontline health workers and first responders, among others.
Until we have widespread testing, we will not be able to gauge the full scope of the virus’s spread in our region and determine appropriate responses. This has been incredibly frustrating for all of us, and despite how quickly we are ramping up in Washington, we still do not have enough tests. We have pressed the Trump Administration repeatedly, and there remains too much confusion.
In addition to limited test kit supplies, we also need to ensure we have the capacity to process tests. The bottom line is that ramping up testing will take some time, and this only underscores the importance of public health strategies like practicing physical/social distancing and good hygiene.
I have also been doing everything possible to push the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to quickly approve our state’s requests for personal protective equipment (PPE) from the Strategic National Stockpile. Last week, when our hospitals told me they had run out of PPE, a constituent reached out to me and we arranged for him to donate 60 N95 masks to Swedish Hospital. We continue to get many inquiries about PPE shortages, including offers of support and donations. More information on donations is available on the Washington State
Department of Enterprise Services website.
This, however, simply cannot be our solution. We need the federal government to take charge of mass purchasing and distribution of PPE, ventilators and other necessary equipment immediately. I am working with the Governor and our federal agencies to push for such a coordinated response immediately.
Governor Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order
Last night, Governor Inslee issued a
Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order. This is extremely important to pay attention to. This order was issued because too many people have not taken the previous guidance seriously, and were continuing to go out without following the physical distancing requirements. The Governor’s order specifically orders people to stay home except for essential activities, bans all gatherings of people for social, spiritual and recreational purposes and closes nonessential workplaces.
Grocery and other essential businesses will continue to operate, such as emergency services, healthcare, critical manufacturing, food and agriculture, transportation, defense industries, critical local government operations and media. Restaurants can still continue to-go and delivery services, and enforcement measures will be shared soon.
Because I have heard so much confusion from constituents about what this exactly means, let me share critical guidance that every person must take very seriously. I know this is not easy, but we’re in this together – and it will take all of us doing the right thing to weather this crisis.
1. Stay home. Don't make exceptions for errands or visits with your best friends, unless it really is an urgent need or for your own health. Stay home for your sake and for others in your community.
2. Maintain physical distance. If you are going for a walk — which is good for mental health and exercise — only go where you can be sure to maintain at least 6-8 feet distance from others. Instead of going to our beautiful public parks when they are packed, instead consider a walk in your neighborhood (as long as you can keep the required physical distance from others).
3. Follow protocols from local and state officials. King County and the City of Seattle have closed playgrounds and sports courts, including picnic shelters, basketball and tennis courts, ball fields and other active recreation sites. Washington State Parks and campgrounds are also closed. This is because physical contact in these spaces is still a big problem, and playground equipment could very well be a site of transmission for a virus that can potentially live for days.
4. Pay attention to your food source. Please visit union grocery stores that are adhering to public health protocols and ensuring high safety standards for workers and the public through their collective bargaining agreements. Consider ordering groceries online and having them delivered, particularly if you are in a high-risk group or have an underlying medical condition.
5. Do not assume you are not carrying the virus. Even if you are asymptomatic (meaning not experiencing or showing the symptoms of COVID-19 like fever, cough and shortness of breath), you should not assume that you do not have the virus or cannot transmit it to others. Remember that even if you are younger, you can still contract the virus, and your symptoms may still be serious.
New research has shown that two-thirds to three-quarters of transmissions could be asymptomatic and
hospitalizations of people under 50 are significant.
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I want to close by expressing my deepest gratitude to all the public health workers, teachers, first responders, garbage collectors, delivery people, government employees, and so many more who are on the front lines of this crisis. This is a moment that shows us what happens when we disinvest in basic government infrastructure, including public health and education. Perhaps most of all, it showcases the problems with a “me-first” instead of a “we-first” society, a society that fails to recognize how deeply interconnected we are and that our lopsided systems that favor the wealthy and well-connected hurt all of us.
This is a chance to be who we genuinely are as human beings, to recognize that our personal actions affect everyone and our lives are inextricably intertwined. This is a chance to see light where there is dark; to see strength emerging in this very moment of crisis. We are strong and resilient. We will weather this together with open hearts and all the sadness and joy that those open hearts allow us to feel.
Please stay in touch. You can always reach out to my office,
sign up for my newsletter or follow me @repjayapal on Twitter and Instagram and at
Facebook.com/RepJayapal.
Sincerely,
U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal
Washington's 7th District