Inslee: State seeks voluntary compliance but will enforce closures if necessary

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee said he wants all Washington residents to comply voluntarily with his “stay-at-home” order, but that the state is prepared to enforce that order if necessary.

Speaking at a press conference Monday with Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste, Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl and Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett, Inslee said his focus remains on educating the public about the need to shelter-in-place at home to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

“If we’re going to beat this, all of us have to be engaged,” Inslee said.

Two weeks ago, Inslee closed schools across the state until April 24, closed public venues and prohibited large public gatherings until April 6.

Both Inslee and Ferguson said their offices have received a number of complaints of “non-essential businesses” that have violated the closure order. They asked that people concerned about businesses being open should call their local police directly, rather than call 911.

Inslee said that if it becomes necessary the state “will take action” to suspend or revoke licenses — including business licenses — in order to enforce both the closure and the shelter-in-place order.

“Referral to the attorney general for criminal and civil citations is a last measure that shouldn’t be necessary,” Inslee said.

“Our goal is 100 percent voluntary compliance,” Ferguson said. “I don’t want to have to use the powers at my disposal, but I will. Lives literally depend on it.”

“Non-essential businesses that won’t close are endangering public health,” Ferguson added.

“Don’t confuse our request for voluntary compliance as optional,” Spokane’s Meidl said.

However, Batiste also noted that the “last thing” state and local officials want to do right now “is arrest people.”

Officials with Moses Lake Police Department and Grant County Sheriff’s Office said they have not issued any formal warnings to people who have violated the governor’s order, but officers report having informal conversations to “educate” some local residents who were not in compliance.

Inslee also said the closure order “may have to be extended,” though that would be based on an analysis of the COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rate. Inslee said he is concerned that “in some parts of the state,” such as Adams County where 19 percent of all COVID-19 tests are positive, the positive COVID-19 test rates are “two to three times higher than what we’ve experienced.”

According to the Washington State Department of Health’s COVID-19 website, the state average for positive tests is around 7 percent.

Late Sunday, President Donald Trump extended the federal government’s closure guidance to April 30.