Drafter
Clerk 04/07/2020
Title
A MOTION requesting that the King County executive create a blue ribbon panel of representatives from state and local governments, business and industry and other organizations, to identify and address issues relating to the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic in King County.
Body
WHEREAS, the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") first appeared in people in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and
WHEREAS, public health - Seattle and King County activated the Public Health Departmental Emergency Operations Center on January 21, 2020, in preparation for a significant public health emergency caused by COVID-19, and
WHEREAS, confirmed cases of COVID-19 have since spread through community transmission King counties, and
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization recognized COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, and
WHEREAS, the King County executive issued a proclamation of emergency on March 1, 2020, in order to allow King County to quickly respond to new or different demands on service in response to the emergency caused by COVID-19, and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Governor issued a "stay-at-home" order on March 23, 2020, for all but essential activities and essential workers, including those responding to the COVID-19 outbreak; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic and response measures have resulted in a significant reduction in economic activity in retail, construction, manufacturing, travel, tourism, professional services, personal services, and other industries and businesses deemed non-essential in the Washington State Governor's stay-at-home order; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 response measures have resulted in significant unemployment claims and many Washington and King County businesses have already identified long-term negative impacts that will affect the reopening of businesses after the emergency is lifted; and
WHEREAS, the federal government has taken actions to ameliorate the financial impact of the pandem...

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