Title
AN ORDINANCE relating to residential and commercial tenant protections during the COVID-19 pandemic; and declaring an emergency.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. Public health - Seattle & King County activated the Public Health Departmental Emergency Operations Center on January 21, 2020, for a significant health emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus. Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency in response to the cases of COVID-19 in Washington state on February 29, 2020, and on March 1, 2020, the King County executive issued a proclamation of emergency.
B. The COVID-19 virus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020.
C. As of April 18, 2020, 11,802 people in Washington state have been diagnosed with and 624 people have died from COVID-19.
D. On March 23, 2020, Governor Inslee issued a proclamation entitled "Stay Home - Stay Healthy," prohibiting all people in the state from leaving their homes or place of residences except either to conduct or participate in essential activities or for employment in essential business services, or both, until April 6, 2020. On April 2, 2020, Governor Inslee extended the "Stay Home - Stay Healthy" proclamation to May 4, 2020. On April 27, 2020, Governor Inslee adjusted and extended the "Stay Home - Stay Healthy" proclamation to May 31, 2020.
E. On May 31, 2020, following the expiration of the "Stay Home - Stay Healthy" proclamation, Governor Inslee issued a proclamation entitled "Safe Start", which details a phased county-by-county approach to reopening the state.
F. Public health - Seattle & King County has recommended that people at higher risk of severe illness stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible. People at higher risk include people: over sixty years old; with underlying health conditions, including heart disease, lung disease or diabetes; with weakened immune systems; and who are pregnan...
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