Mayoral Order - Mayoral Proclamation of Civil Emergency - 3/4/2020

EVERETT WASHINGTON MAYORAL PROCLAMATION OF CIVIL EMERGENCY WHEREAS, A. On January 21, 2020, the Washington State Department of Health confirmed the first case of the novel coronavirus in the United States in Snohomish County, Washington, and local health departments and the Washington State Department of Health have since that time worked to identify, contact, and test others in Washington State potentially exposed to the novel coronavirus in coordination with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). B. COVID-19, a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death, is caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which is a new strain of coronavirus that had not been previously identified in humans and can easily spread from person to person. C. The CDC identifies the potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 both globally and in the United States as "high" and has advised that person -to -person spread of COVID-19 will continue to occur globally, including within the United States. D. The CDC currently indicates there are over 90,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide with multiple cases in the United States, and the Washington State Department of Health confirmed localized person -to -person spread of COVID-19 in Washington State, significantly increasing the risk of exposure and infection to Washington State's general public creating an extreme public health risk that may spread quickly. E. Cases of COVID-19 already exist in Snohomish County, COVID-19 already caused the death of o ne Snohomish County resident, and the effects of its extreme risk of person -to -person transmission throughout Snohomish County may significantly impact the life and health of our people, as well as our economy, and is a public health disaster that affects life, health, property o r the public peace. F. On January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency for COVID-19, beginning January 27, 2020. G. On February 29, 2020, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee proclaimed a public health e mergency for COVID-19, beginning February 29, 2020.