Gov. Jay Inslee Encourages People To Quarantine Before Thanksgiving

The Washington governor urged residents to change their holiday plans ahead of Thanksgiving due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.

"We have to rethink these holidays so that we may be thankful when we don't lose more lives to COVID," Gov. Jay Inslee said with Washington First Lady Trudi Inslee at his side in a live televised address. "We are optimistic that Thanksgiving 2021 will be the best ever, but this year, it's just too dangerous to gather together indoors where the virus can spread so easily."

Gov. Inslee said Washingtonians should not have Thanksgiving gatherings unless "you are positive that everyone there has quarantined successfully for fourteen days, which starts today," Gov. Inslee said on Thursday (November 14).

"Otherwise, every social gathering is just one more brick in a wall of infection," First Lady Inslee said. "It’s not just Thanksgiving. Birthday parties, Seahawks celebrations, it doesn’t matter. These gatherings are dangerous right now."

The governor also pointed to the spike in coronavirus cases, noting that they've doubled over the past two weeks. "We are in as dangerous a position today as we were in March," he said. This echoes the sentiments of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), who said spikes could happen after Thanksgiving. They also issued guidelines in case Americans decide to celebrate.

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