March 26 - April 1, 2020
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Grandparents, new baby separated by border, page 7
114-year-old fishing boat being restored, page 10
Blaine Food Bank adopts social distancing, page 15
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Inslee issues stay-home order with exceptions for ‘essential’ activities By Oliver Lazenby
(See Inslee, page 15)
s A school bus delivers food to local kids stuck at home due to the statewide closure of all K-12 schools. During the school closures, which are expected to last until at least April 24, Blaine school bus drivers and food service staff are delivering food to every single normal bus stop in the district. Check the district’s website, blainesd.org, for route maps and estimated delivery drop-off times, and read our story on page 15 for additional information about the program.
Photo by Molly Ernst
Temporary restrictions at northern border go into effect By Jami Makan Restrictions on “non-essential” travel across the northern border went into effect on March 21, and will remain in place for at least 30 days, according to a joint statement from the U.S. and Canadian governments. In a statement posted to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) websites on March 20, the U.S. and Canadian governments announced that cross-border travel for “tourism” or “recreation” is temporarily restricted. Supply chains, as well as travel for “essential work or for other urgent or essential reasons,” will be allowed to continue. “The U.S.-Canada land border serves as an economic engine that supports over $1.7 billion (USD) dollars in daily cross-border trade,” read the DHS version of the joint statement. “As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States and Canada are temporarily restricting all non-essential travel across its borders. In each of our countries, we are encouraging people to exercise caution by avoiding unnecessary contact with others. This collaborative and reciprocal measure is an extension of that prudent approach.” The joint statement defined “non-essential travel” to include “travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature.” The statement continued: “The United States and Canada recognize it is critical we preserve supply chains between both countries. These supply chains ensure that food, fuel and life-saving medicines reach people on both sides of the border. Supply chains, including trucking, will not be impacted by this new measure. Americans
and Canadians also cross the land border every day to do essential work or for other urgent or essential reasons, and that travel will not be impacted.” The statement concluded by stating that the decision was to be implemented on March 21, “at which time the U.S. and Canada will temporarily restrict all non-essential travel across the U.S.-Canada land border. The measure will be in place for 30 days, at which point it will be reviewed by both parties.” In a document authored by DHS acting general counsel Chad Mizelle that was scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on March 24, “essential travel” was further defined to include U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the U.S. It also includes individuals traveling for medical purposes; to attend educational institutions; to work in the U.S.; and for emergency response and public health purposes. It further includes individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade; official government or diplomatic travel; or military-related travel or operations. Travel for tourism, sightseeing, recreation, gambling or cultural events was specifically restricted. “At this time, this notification does not apply to air, freight rail or sea travel between the United States and Canada,” said Mizelle’s memo. “These restrictions are temporary in nature and shall remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 20, 2020. This notification may be amended or rescinded prior to that time, based on circumstances associated with the specific threat.” Meanwhile, CBSA issued its own guidance regarding the “enhanced border mea-
sures.” According to a CBSA spokesperson, “Canadians and Americans cross the border every day to work or study – for example, truck drivers, firefighters and nurses. Canadian and American citizens and permanent residents who are currently visiting each other’s country can still return home. All of these people and goods will not be impacted by the new measures.” The CBSA spokesperson added: “Travel by healthy people who have to cross the border to go to work or for other essential purposes, such as medical care, will continue.” However, individuals who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and who present symptoms consistent with COVID-19, will be restricted from entering Canada. “Canadian citizens and permanent residents presenting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 may still enter Canada by land, rail and marine, but not via air, in order to ensure the health of all (See Border, page 2)
INSIDE
On March 23, Washington governor Jay Inslee issued a stay-at-home order for the whole state for a minimum of two weeks, in the latest and most extreme measure to slow the spread of the new coronavirus in Washington state. The order began immediately at 5:30 p.m. on March 23 and is enforceable by law, Inslee said in a televised announcement. Washington joins at least a dozen other states with similar orders. The order allows people to leave home only for essentials, including grocery shopping or medical appointments. People can still go outside to walk or exercise, but must stay six feet from others. Only “essential businesses” can stay open, including grocery stores, banks, gas stations, pharmacies and restaurants offering take-out or delivery. Businesses working remotely can stay open as well. Non-essential businesses were required to close by the end of the day on March 25, Inslee said. Inslee’s list of businesses that are still allowed to operate includes hundreds of positions in public health, emergency services, food production, energy, utilities, transportation and trucking, media, information technology, manufacturing, government, financial services and other industries. See a full list of essential business at bit.ly/2xlvA5O. On March 23, the Washington State Department of Health reported 2,221 total confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 110 deaths. That’s a jump of 225 cases and 15 deaths from the previous day. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were reporting 44,183 confirmed cases and 544 deaths on March 24. Worldwide, there were more than 415,000 confirmed cases and 18,500 deaths as of March 24, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Whatcom County had 64 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two deaths as of March 24. One week earlier, there were five confirmed cases in the county. The Whatcom County Health Department identified 29 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on March 22 in an outbreak at Shuksan Healthcare Center, a nursing and rehabilitation facility in Bellingham. Of those cases, 23 are residents and six are staff associated with the facility. Health officials say that, absent widespread testing, social distancing is the best way to slow the spread of the new coronavirus to avoid overwhelming hospitals. As of March 23, it wasn’t clear if any hospitals in the state were suffering from a lack of beds or ventilators, but equipment shortages were reportedly widespread. PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
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