Gov. Inslee announces one-week extension of statewide restrictions

Another week extension of COVID restrictions.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced a one-week extension of the "Stay Safe–Stay Healthy" proclamation, along with the statewide restrictions imposed. The extension of the statewide restrictions will now expire on Jan. 11, 2021. No changes were made in the proclamation aside from the expiration date.

An updated reopening plan is currently being developed to provide a pathway for businesses and workers impacted by this order to reopen safely. The updated plan will be released next week.

Read the full proclamation (Governor's office).

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Governor Inslee also order a stay in the implementation of the plastic bag ban (Governor's office) that was to go into effect on January 1, 22021 (today) -- these are Inslee's reasons:

The governor is delaying the new law's implementation due to supply issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which are affecting their ability to procure the alternative bags, including:

1. Increased demand for paper and thicker plastic bags, due to increased demand for takeout and groceries;
2. Retailers asking customers not to bring bags from home, to protect workers; and
3. Thicker plastic bag manufacturers transitioning their facilities to manufacture hospital gowns and other PPE.

Item 2 in the list shows that Inslee recognizes that bags brought from home can bring disease.  The plastic bag ban forces people who are buying food to be exposed to disease somebody else brought into the store via their dirty bags.

"Our top priority is keeping Washingtonians healthy during this pandemic."  The state Department of Ecology makes it clear that multi-use bags are a hazard to public health.

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Who wants waste bags in the environment?  The state's answer has been heavy handed enough to cause a potential health problem.  Why bludgeon the public when what we need is simply to pick up bags and other waste from the environment?  Picking up plastic trash to put in the recycling stream (with some put in landfills) will be environmentally less costly.

Let's get the bag ban repealed. The present law is a danger to those who live in the environment. Let's have the legislature and Mr Inslee think out better, more environmentally responsible, law.