Newsbrief: Restrictions seem to be working

(Photo: New York Times)

by Shane Duquette

Virus transmission has decreased in Seattle, Washington, where the first case in the United States occured, according to the New York Times.

Seattle was home to the first cases in the US, claiming 37 of the 50 first victims. Because it was the first place, the state of Washington issued containment strategies immediately, hoping it would help contain the virus. With others states reporting their death rates, Washington is among the lowest, showing these strategies seem to work.

The streets of Washington have been dramatically more empty, showing that most people are only going out when they absolutely need to. This has kept hospitals from being overwhelmed with patients. They are in fear, however, of running out of medical supplies in the case there is a rise in cases.

Infected people were spreading the virus to an average of 2.7 other people earlier in March, that number appears to have dropped down to 1.4.

Seattle’s mayor, Jenny Durkan, said she was cautious to lift the restrictions knowing people would go out. She said she wants to keep the distancing requirements in place for the next few months to prevent a huge rise in cases from occurring.

The largest outbreak in the US is now in New York with 59,513 cases, half of those being in New York City alone.

Now that other states are in the same spot as Washington was, they are referring to Washington to copy what they did in Seattle.

Shane Duquette is currently working on personal projects such as paintings, practicing and writing music, and eagerly waiting to return to work at a restaurant.