What does "Stay at Home" mean?

March 23, 2020: Local officials hold news conferences as they learn more about the virus. This afternoon, Washington’s Governor Jay Inslee asked residents to stay at home as much as possible and to stay 6 feet from each other. Meanwhile, the cities of Everett and Edmonds issued a “stay at home” order to their residents, instructing them not to go out except for essential activities and work for essential businesses. Inslee issued a similar order this evening. 

We are in a quandary. Months ago, Doug and I planned our annual April trip to our beach condo in California, a time to stare at the sea while cleaning, restocking supplies, and making needed repairs in preparation for renting it during the summer tourist season. We booked our flight and a rental car for the two-week stay, as usual. But given the concerns about air travel (many surfaces shared by many travelers), this morning I cancelled both the flight and car. This time, we decided to drive.

It is hard to figure out the difference between the governor’s “order” and what we’ve been asked to do already. Some people say an order adds “teeth” to the advice. Will the order result in fining businesses that stay open or residents who go out anyway?

There is no specific guidance for those who regularly inhabit a second home as we do. We plan to be as careful as we can in transit and “stay at home” in our Monterey Bay condo.

Did you cancel travel by air in the first month of the pandemic? How did you think you were most likely to become infected during plane travel?

I live in Seattle and have time to think. Muse, even. Retired from research consulting and report writing, I now write about family history and life around me.

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