Whatcom law enforcement educating groups they encounter during coronavirus pandemic
Bellingham police received reports of a St. Patrick’s Day large gathering of juveniles near Clark’s Point, despite requests from Whatcom County Health Department to limit gatherings to no more than 10 people due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
A call at 7:08 p.m. March 17 reported a gathering of approximately 100 juveniles that arrived in 50 cars south of the Edgemoor neighborhood, Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
Officers arrived approximately 30 minutes later, Murphy reported, but by then, everyone had left the area.
Without a “social distancing” law in Washington state, Murphy wrote that Whatcom County law enforcement officers are being asked to educate the public about the importance of proper distancing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 when they encounter large groups.
The Lummi Indian Business Council on Sunday ordered people living on the Lummi Reservation to shelter in place, according to a video posted on its Facebook page. But for the rest of the Whatcom County and much of the rest of the state, no similar order has been made as of Monday morning.
“Right now it is still advised and suggested not to congregate,” Murphy wrote. “If and when a declaration is made to remain at home (like in California) then there are some laws which may come into effect.”
Murphy added that it will depend how a declaration is written, but that RCW 43.06.220 through RCW 43.06.270 are about state of emergency contingencies.
Though there is no “social distancing” laws in Washington, Murphy reported that RCW 43.06.250 comes closest. It states: “Any person upon any public way or any public property, within the area described in the state of emergency, who is directed by a public official to leave the public way or public property and refuses to do so shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.”
“The key being if they refuse to leave,” Murphy wrote. “There will be much more messaging coming, likely from (Whatcom) Unified Command, with regard to this if there is a declaration made to shelter in place order from the governor.”
The city of Everett issued a stay-at-home directive in response to the COVID-19 outbreak that was set to begin at noon Monday, March 23, according to a story by the Everett Herald. Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson issued an emergency stay at home order Sunday, listing what was allowed in the city and making all other trips away from home a misdemeanor, KIRO7.com reported.
As previously reported in The Herald, Inslee said Friday he was not yet issuing a stay-at-home order, but “that does not mean we would not be here soon to make further legally-binding orders.” He said the state is analyzing what a stay-at-home order would entail, saying it would have “profound economic consequences” for the state’s residents.
“If people continue to ignore this common-sense provision, I will go farther to protect 7 million Washingtonians. So I am asking you — and you may say I am pleading with you — to stay home unless it is necessary for you to go out. I am asking both businesses and individuals to accomplish this,” Inslee added.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
COVID-19, the new coronavirus, is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2.
The disease is spread through contact between people within six feet of each other, especially through coughing and sneezing that expels respiratory droplets that land in the mouths or noses of people nearby.
Although most of the cases have been mild, the disease is especially dangerous for the elderly and others with weaker immune systems.
Click the drop-down icon in the upper right of this card for more information on symptoms and how to stop its spread.
What you can do
Here’s what you can do to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, according to the Whatcom County Health Department.
▪ Keep six feet between yourself and others when in public.
▪ Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
▪ Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth with hands that haven’t been washed.
▪ Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, throw the tissue in the trash and then wash your hands.
▪ Stay home if you feel sick. Avoid others who are sick.
▪ If your symptoms are severe and require medical care, call your doctor first.
