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Stay at home, the governor says. But what does that mean, exactly?

caption: Leslie Buker walks by Oddfellows Cafe + Bar, with a mural painted by Stacy Milrany displayed, on Sunday, March 22, 2020, on 10th Avenue in Seattle.
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Leslie Buker walks by Oddfellows Cafe + Bar, with a mural painted by Stacy Milrany displayed, on Sunday, March 22, 2020, on 10th Avenue in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer

Gov. Jay Inslee announced a stay-at-home order on Monday to fight back coronavirus. As he spoke, the state had updated its deaths from the virus to 110, and case count to 2,000.

The governor's order left some wondering about what leeway they had to maintain some semblance of normalcy. We compiled your questions, and tried to answer them below. We will continue attempting to answer the questions that come in.

Can I visit my significant other?

Yes.

Are pet stores staying open or will I have to change my animal's diet?

Pet stores will remain open.

Are veterinary hospitals staying open for prescriptions and emergencies?

Yes.

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Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers

Can my kid ride bikes at the park with a couple friends?

No. Kids are not supposed to congregate.

Can my kids play on the block with the other neighborhood kids?

No.

I am a nanny for parents in non-essential jobs, can I still work for them? I only go from their house back to mine.

No.

What if I am a nanny taking care of a family with medical needs?

Yes.

My neighbors and I are doing an informal daycare at home with the same four families. Is that OK?

No. No congregating.

Can I go for a run?

Yes.

Can my kid have a sleepover with a small group of friends?

No. Sleepovers are banned.

Can I still have my big wedding?

No. Funerals are also banned during the two-week period.

Will my child’s daycare close?

Depends on the provider, but child care is considered essential and may stay open.

Will take-out be banned?

No. Take-out and delivery from restaurants will not be banned.

What about fast food drive-thrus?

Also open.

Should I stock up on food?

No, per the governor. “No one should make a run on the grocery stores to overstock,” Inslee said.

Will this order be enforced?

The state makes it a gross misdemeanor to violate a governor's emergency order. They're hoping they don't have to enforce it. But the governor's chief of staff said Monday night that if they're hearing reports that people are not complying, he has no doubt that the governor has asked law enforcement to step up their efforts. He said not necessarily arresting people, but asking people to disperse.

Will this order last just two weeks?

Unclear. The order is in effect for 14 days. It could go longer.

The governor in his remarks Monday night said that this is for a minimum of two weeks. It could be expanded, and his chief of staff said they chose two weeks hoping to see an impact, but that very likely some form of this will last longer than two weeks.

Can housekeepers continue to clean people's homes?

We are seeking clarity on this. The closest we get is this line from the governor’s rule: Workers who provide support to vulnerable populations to ensure their health and well-being including family care providers.”

I own a small residential construction business. We have some exterior work right now. Like, re-siding a garage. Construction is “exempt” but it doesn’t go into detail about exactly what type of construction...

Directly from the order: “Construction workers who support the construction, operation, inspection, and maintenance of construction sites and construction projects (including housing construction) for all essential facilities, services and projects included in this document, and for residential construction related to emergency repairs and projects that ensure structural integrity.

"Workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of construction sites and construction projects (including those that support such projects to ensure the availability of needed facilities, transportation, energy and communications; and support to ensure the effective removal, storage, and disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste)."

Questions you asked that we don’t yet have answers to:

Can stores like Home Depot stay open?

I am a gardener; can I continue to garden at my clients' homes?

Artists producing streaming content?

Can you go for a walk with a friend if you both stay six feet apart?

Austin Jenkins contributed reporting.

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