The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

OLYMPIA—Governor Jay Inslee issued a travel advisory for international and interstate travelers, asking that they self-quarantine for 14 days upon entering the state of Washington. Governor Inslee asks Washington residents to stay close to home to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

“COVID-19 cases have doubled in Washington over the past two weeks. This puts our state in as dangerous a position today as we were in March,” Inslee said. “Limiting and reducing travel is one way to reduce further spread of the disease. I am happy to partner with California and Oregon in this effort to help protect lives up and down the West Coast.”

Washington’s governor joined Oregon Governor Kate Brown and California Governor Gavin Newsome to issue similar travel advisories in their respective states.

“COVID-19 does not stop at state lines. As hospitals across the West are stretched to capacity, we must take steps to ensure travelers are not bringing this disease home with them,” said Brown. “If you do not need to travel, you shouldn’t. This will be hard, especially with Thanksgiving around the corner. But the best way to keep your family safe is to stay close to home.”

“California just surpassed a sobering threshold ­—one million COVID-19 cases‹—with no signs of the virus slowing down,” said Newsom. “Increased cases are adding pressure on our hospital systems and threatening the lives of seniors, essential workers, and vulnerable Californians. Travel increases the risk of spreading COVID-19, and we must all collectively increase our efforts at this time to keep the virus at bay and save lives.”

In addition to the self-quarantine ask, the travel advisories ask that individuals limit their immediate household interactions and limit travel to essential travel only. Essential travel is defined as travel for work and study, critical infrastructure, financial service and supply chains, immediate medical care, and safety and security.