The White House is advising even stronger restrictions on social gatherings than Governor Jay Inslee and other state leaders have required. Governor Inslee’s most recent orders mandate that bars and restaurants must limit service to pick up and delivery only. It also limits gatherings to 50 people or fewer.
President Trump announced Monday that people should not gather in groups of more than 10 at a time, and they should refrain from amassing in food courts, bars, restaurants, or other popular public venues.
The President also cautioned against travel, domestic or international, at this time. Currently, these are all suggestions, not mandates, but they do follow guidelines already set into place. In some instances they are more strict than the mandated closures and orders from the Washington State Governor’s office.
President Trump’s suggestions are even more stringent than the CDC’s most recent guidelines. He has requested that his guidelines be in effect for at least the next 15 days. As of his statements Monday, he believes it could be July or August before this pandemic is seen to truly abate.