As the novel coronavirus spreads throughout our community, we are pulling together to help each other out and protect our society. 

Here are a few examples of Washingtonians showing civic virtue and compassion:

Health care workers, medical assistants, nurses, and doctors are putting themselves in harm’s way without enough protective gear while on the front line of detection and care.

First responders, EMTs, fire fighters, and police are responding to emergencies knowing people they save may be infected.

Child care workers, including all the unrecognized family home providers, have been expected to stay on the job and care for our youngest children, with lousy pay and few benefits – many without health coverage themselves. 

Canlis stopped its fine dining last week and instead started a drive-thru burger joint in their parking lot, a pop-up bagel shop, and an at-home dinner delivery service. As owner Mark Canlis said, “I’m not sure fine dining has a place right now in Seattle, but they might still need us. Regardless of what happens, everybody has got to eat.” 

The City of Seattle has issued a moratorium on residential evictions for lack of rent payment. Without the City’s immediate intervention, renters will be evicted and small business owners will go bankrupt. The human cost will be incalculable,” said City Council Member Kshama Sawant.

The city is also offering $800 grocery vouchers for 6,000 families affected by the coronavirus and grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses owned by someone at or below 80 percent of median income.

Boys and Girls Clubs of King County will be extending hours and programs at 12 of its centers as an option to families looking for a place to turn. “We recognize that not all families have the ability to stay home and take care of their kids when schools are closed,” said president and CEO Laurie Black.

Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden and President Ben Minicucci have set their salaries to zero for the length of the crisis.

University of Washington Medical Center has developed its own approved COVID-19 test and started drive-through testing (by appointment only). They are currently processing up to 2,300 tests a day.

Seattle Flu Study did an end run around CDC regulations, and figured out through flu studies and retroactive analysis that the novel coronavirus was in our state.

Unionized workers at Fred Meyer, PCC, and Safeway are making sure that we can purchase food. 

Governor Jay Inslee has shown leadership, honesty, and forthrightness guide us through this pandemic.

You wash your hands, keep your distance from others, and understand that with compassion and love and looking out for one another, we can get through this and be stronger on the other side.