Lawmakers prepare COVID-19 plans

OLYMPIA, Wash. — About 2,500 people were on the state Capitol steps Sunday demanding Gov. Jay Inslee reopen the economy. The protestors are fearful about closed businesses and lost jobs and angry about the government restrictions. Now that the spread of the virus is slowing, they don’t wait until the governor’s safe-at-home order expires on May 4.

Tri-Cities business woman Melody Frei spoke for many. "While we don't want anyone to die, this is the facts of life, we live and we die, so to shut down the economy because of that is insane," she said.

Construction is likely to be one of the first businesses to reopen -- Democratic and Republican leaders are already putting together plans for other business too.

State Rep. Larry Springer is part of a group of legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle who are asking the governor to consider their recommendations for businesses to reopen first. “Auto sales which could be done online, landscaping which is generally very small one or two-person crews. We also looked at mobile home delivery because it turns out mobile home deliveries can happen now, but they can't be hooked up.”

Seattle Medical researcher Dr. Steve Quay believes Washington can call a “cease fire” in the battle against COVID-19 on April 23 -- this Thursday, -- because infections have been flat.

“Absolutely not,” he responded when asked whether the state could reopen businesses right away.

He explains it's the beginning of a 14-day period of monitoring to be sure infections are on a downslope before beginning to reopen.

“Having people gathering now, not respecting social distancing, not respecting stay at home orders is exactly the opposite of what should be happening.”

Rep. Springer lives a few blocks away from the Life Care Center that suffered so many deaths.

He compares the protestors to the World War II “greatest generation.”

“They didn’t complain that sugar and nylons were rationed, they did what was in the best public interest.”

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