SEATTLE — Researchers at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) said a gradual decrease of social distancing guidelines could safely start during the week of May 18th.
Researchers added that it will still be a long time before people will be able to go to places like nightclubs and sporting events.
The IHME’s new data received the attention of White House officials.
In a press conference, they spoke of Washington State’s progress in tackling the Coronavirus crisis early.
"They were one of the first states and metro areas to really move to social distancing, so they’ve really never had a peak like many of the other metros,” said Dr. Deborah Birx, of the federal Coronavirus Task Force.
While May 18, could be the key day in Washington State, other states will likely have to wait.
According to IHME researchers, states like Utah and Oklahoma may need to wait until early July.
During a news conference, President Trump said he has no doubt that the economy will bounce back when social distancing ends.
"The market is smart... the market is actually brilliant,” he noted.
Any reopening in Washington depends on Gov. Jay Inslee.
Inslee’s plan calls for an end to the stay-at-home order on May 4th, but it appears he will now face calls from IHME researchers to delay the expiration of the order for another two weeks.
At Kerry Park in Queen Anne, social distancing already seems to be out, in favor of a splendid view of Downtown Seattle.
Despite an order from Seattle’s mayor that bans gatherings in parks this weekend, Seattle’s newest married couple took wedding pictures in the park.
Stanley and Karissa Leau Pepepetele both insisted they had followed social distancing before coming to Kerry Park.
“We had a couple people at the church, and then we went Facebook live, so it was a social media wedding,” declared Karissa Leau Pepepetele.
Talk of easing social distance measures comes as Washington state appears to be flattening the curve.
IHME researchers said it’s been nearly two weeks since the state saw a peak in Coronavirus deaths.
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