EVERETT, Wash. – Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin today issued a mayoral directive, directing all city of Everett residents and business owners to stay home, except for certain essential activities and work to provide essential business, government services or public infrastructure. The order remains in effect until further notice.
The directive urges residents to limit interactions with others while enabling essential services to continue. Ensuring the maximum number of people self-isolate will help slow the spread of COVID-19 and limit its exposure to more vulnerable demographics.
“The novel coronavirus is spreading rapidly through our community. It spreads through person-to-person contact. The best way to slow its impact is by eliminating non-essential interactions,” said Franklin. “That is why I’m directing Everett residents and businesses to stay home.”
Essential activities residents may participate in include:
- Errands to maintain health and safety
- Getting necessary services or supplies for themselves or their family, pets or household members, such as food and supplies necessary for staying at home
- Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running, provided they maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing
- Caring for a family member in another household, elderly, minors, dependents, people with disabilities or other vulnerable persons
The directive does not apply to those going to work in an essential business or government functions, including:
- Health care operations, including all training and educational programs and home health workers
- Essential infrastructure, including construction of housing (residential and mixed-use), industrial and commercial projects currently underway; and operation of public transportation and utilities
- Businesses that supply products or services necessary to both maintain the functionality and/or safety of equipment, facilities, utilities, healthcare, national defense, all modes of transportation and critical supply chains used in other essential businesses
- Grocery stores, farmers markets, food banks, convenience stores
- Food and beverage providers offering curbside pick up, delivery, take out or drive-thru services
- Businesses that provide necessities of life for economically disadvantaged individuals and shelter facilities
- Pharmacies, health care supply stores and health care facilities
- Gas stations and auto repair facilities
- Banks
- Garbage collection
- Hardware stores, plumbers, electricians and other service providers necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operation of residences and other essential businesses
- Educational institutions, for the purposes of facilitating distance learning
- Laundromats, dry cleaners and laundry service providers
- Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food and goods directly to residences
- Childcare facilities providing services that enable essential employees to go to work
- Roles required for any essential business to "maintain basic operations," which include security, payroll and similar activities
Homeless individuals are not subject to this directive, but are strongly urged to find shelter. Government agencies are urged to take steps needed to provide shelter for those individuals.
“I’m not asking people to stay exclusively indoors. We all need to buy food, medicine and other essential goods and services. We also need fresh air and exercise,” continued Franklin. “This order does not prevent you from going outside, walking your dog, or going for a run, as long as you maintain distance from others. I know this is asking a lot – but it’s going to take each and every one of us doing our part to get us through this crisis.”
Visit everettwa.gov/COVID19 for up-to-date information on City operations and response to COVID-19, as well as additional resources and information.
Sign up for text and email alerts for news and updates on the City’s response to COVID-19 at everettwa.gov/COVID19updates.
###
