If only we had 2,500 test kits delivered every day by Pence.

But, no, only smaller provinces like BC to our north can manage that.

What remains unclear is how many deaths exactly are linked to the Life Care Center in Kirkland and if the deaths occurred in patients with compromised immune systems/other underlying health issues. This information changes depending on what media source you're getting it from. The media (all the media) are guilty of some pretty sloppy reporting on coronavirus.

Meanwhile, people who sneezes twice now think they need to be tested and treated. The system will be overloaded and break down from being buried in hysterical hypchondriacs.

As of now, the "real news media" seem as lacking in credibility as social media posts and shares.

It should be noted and not forgotten that SeaTac was not one of the 1st 5 airports to screen for the Corona Virus. Those airports were - LAX, SFO, JFK, Atlanta and Chicago. It might not have made a difference but seems like a naive decision not to include a major Pacific Rim city like Seattle.

@3 Even after unusually rigorous post-mortems, we may never know if some of the Life Center victims died due to preexisting complicating factors above and beyond old age.

Medical Examiners have a pretty impressive array of tools and expertise at their disposal these days, but it ain't like in the movies.

What would be far, far more helpful than meticulous media reporting of complicating factors is more in-depth questioning of government responses, especially local government.

Too many media outlets are owned by local real estate moguls, or other business-friendly groups or families. Even the alternative press these days is beholden to business-- how long could The Stranger stay afloat if local bars and restaurants were closing or tightening their belts, suspending their ad buys?

Too many large events in Seattle have not been cancelled because the organizers can't collect their "act of god" insurance without some sort of official declaration from state/local/federal government, and will go broke if they have to refund all the fees they've collected without any insurance claim to soften the blow. The press could shine a light on that particular problem, and others like it, but they seem to be just as skittish as any other business about promoting contagion-fighting measures that might have any adverse impact the economy.

@6 you said: “The press could shine a light on that particular problem, and others like it, but they seem to be just as skittish as any other business about promoting contagion-fighting measures that might have any adverse impact the economy.”

Nailed it. It’s not just the delay with testing kits (and this is weird, why do we have to reinvent the test? Other countries from Germany to China have them already), but have you noticed the absence of Jenny Durkan? She’s AWOL (along with city council) except to announce she’s sending the emergency proclamation to the City Council. Great. City Hall gets xtra hand sanitizers. How about discussing Comic Con and the city’s plan to help mitigate the viral spread with 50,000+ people in a small area and what happens should people get sick while here. There’s a plan right? Hellllooo city leaders with your large communication staff, your bullhorn awaits!

The other thing that makes US stands out is how expensive it is to get your symptoms checked and be tested. It’s nuts that in a possible pandemic, this city can’t figure out how to do this for free. It offers free community college and lots of expensive goodies (hundreds of millions) to various pet projects and lobbying groups, but no free testing?

We know the city isn’t shy and has been very heavy handed when it comes to seeking taxes and banning all kinds of things for our own good, or getting fired up over SFH zoning because city leaders see it as an inequity and racist problem. You see no shortage of fiery talks and actions. But here comes a little virus that has popped up unexpectedly and has the world in crisis mode. Where’s the hear me roar world class leadership from city leaders?

What are they worrying about? Scaring off visitors? Well every media has Seattle as a viral epicenter. So a little late to be shy about it. Instead, how about embracing it and provide the public more details like what are Seattle Public Schools’ plan to mitigate this infection, i.e. more cleaning of schools, more monitoring by school nurses, if a child or staff is tested positive, what then? Plan of Actions (or inaction) is useful to know. Actions might not be sexy or equity laden (cleaning door knobs rarely is), but they help by reducing disease transmission and inform an anxious public.