Inslee Mandates Quarantines For Arrivals From UK, South Africa

SEATTLE — Travelers arriving in Washington from the United Kingdom or South Africa are now legally required to complete a 14-day quarantine as part of a new effort to prevent the spread of a mutated coronavirus strain sweeping across both countries.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced his latest order Monday and said his mandate would apply to all travelers who spent any time in the countries, including those who arrived in the last few days. The governor said it was likely more nations would be added to the list as further outbreaks are identified.

"This is a cautionary reminder that we are perhaps months away from being out of the worst of this pandemic," Inslee said. "And it is a vivid reminder of the uncertainties and unpredictabilities of this pandemic, and I think a compelling reason to continue to adhere to what we know reduces transmission: the use of masks, social distancing, limiting travel and avoiding in-person gatherings, particularly indoors."

Preliminary research indicates that a newly identified variant sweeping across England appears to spread easier than other strains, but no evidence that it increases the severity of the disease or interferes with the effectiveness of vaccines.

Related: Scientists Urge Concern, Not Alarm Over New COVID-19 Strains

"It seems very likely to me, but not at all certain, that it is more transmissible, but we don't know the mechanism for that," said Trevor Bedford, a research scientist at Fred Hutch. "It could be it is more intrinsically infectious, it could have a longer presymptomatic period, it could be milder and more symptomatic transmission, there's a lot of ways you could accomplish this that are not just pure infectivity."

While scientists study the effects of the latest mutations, Inslee said it was essential to act quickly to limit the chances the strain could be introduced locally. So far, researchers are unaware of any confirmed cases involving the UK or South Africa mutations in the United States.

"We want to prevent or reduce the prospects of this," Inslee said. "The UK is having to impose very significant restrictions now because of the explosion of COVID associated, apparently, with the very rapid growth of this particular mutation. We believe this is a reasonable approach, and we're asking folks to be safe and abide by this quarantine if they do come."

Beyond the mandatory quarantine period, the state is also encouraging anyone who arrives from the UK or South Africa to seek testing immediately, even if they are not experiencing symptoms. Doing so will help the state keep tabs on whether the mutation has arrived.

Inslee said the state lacks the authority to prohibit flights from the countries in question, which is a step that requires federal action. In recent days, dozens of nations have barred flights from the UK.

"These are difficult decisions to interrupt people's holiday plans, we don't do this lightly," Inslee said. "But we have to understand that the cataclysmic results of having people come here who are infected, we've now seen what can happen. This is a mutation that there is much that is not known at this moment."

When asked about enforcement and more direct measures to ensure quarantines are followed, similar to those implemented earlier in New York, Inslee said the logistics were not in place to do so, but further steps may be taken in the days and weeks to come.

"We could adopt additional logistical ways to greet people when they leave the airport," Inslee said. "We are exploring ways to communicate this requirement to passengers right now, talking to the airlines, asking for their assistance and potentially the support of Seattle."

The governor also acknowledged recent good news, including the approval of a second coronavirus vaccine and the successful prevention of a surge in cases following Thanksgiving. Nevertheless, Inslee said, staying vigilant with the same precautions, including forgoing celebrations outside the immediate household, will be essential through the winter holidays and into next year.

"We need to continue to avoid indoor gatherings, and certainly during the holiday season coming up, that's of particular importance," Inslee said. "The good news is things do not appear to be accelerating the way they were in Washington, but our situation remains very tenuous. How and when we come out of this pandemic remains to be determined in part by adhering to COVID-19 health protocols and making responsible personal decisions."