Our new normal.
Our new normal: Scarecrow Video has set up a sanitation station, among other health measures. Chase Burns

For the time being, it doesn't look like we're going to get a "shelter-in-place" order in Washington state. Yesterday, Mayor Durkan said "we are not eliminating any option," while also noting that the measures Washington state has already put in place are essentially akin to a "shelter-in-place" order, like the one in San Francisco.

Today, Gov. Inslee said that now is not the time to shelter in place. So, for now, some places in Washington remain open. (And some health experts aren't happy about it: "Not taking measures now and waiting for more information is just foolish. It’s better to cut off your foot than to lose your leg," a professor of epidemiology told the Seattle Times.)

See the places permitted to be open, below:

Retail spaces can stay open as long as they "designate an employee/officer to be responsible for establishing and implementing a social distancing plan." Libraries, golf courses, and even acupuncturists are allowed to be open. As are essential businesses, like grocery stores and pharmacies.

Last night, I took a walk through the city with furloughed staffer Jasmyne Keimig to visit Scarecrow Video, and we were surprised with the health measures they'd implemented.

Here's what you see when you enter Scarecrow:

We washed our hands!
We washed our hands! CB

In addition to this set-up, the very valuable and incredibly precious archive has set up these new health rules:

They've got the rules on handy sheets of paper when you come into the store.

ETfQhLKUUAEhQC3.jpeg
Courtesy Scarecrow Video

Everyone seemed to be following these rules, generally, as they picked out movies for their next week of quarantine. Jasmyne and I usually visit Scarecrow for our Unstreamable column, but since that's on an indefinite hiatus because of our budget cuts, I rented whatever I wanted. I picked these out:
Minbo (1992) comes from director Juzo Itami, who is most known for Tampopo (1985).
Minbo (1992) comes from director Juzo Itami, who is most known for Tampopo (1985). CB

Hayao Miyazaki is one of the key animators for Puss 'n Boots (1969), one of his earlier projects.
Hayao Miyazaki is one of the key animators for Puss 'n Boots (1969), one of his earlier projects. CB

We social distanced ourselves away from each other while checking out our DVDs, the distance indicated by black tape on the floor. It felt safe. To check out, I gave them my card, they had gloves on, and I didn't have to sign the receipt. Hands-free, basically!

And then, once we got back to the Hill, we noticed some more social distancing measures. Look at this:

Have you ever seen people so patient for Dicks?
Have you ever seen people so patient for Dick's? CB

A security guard made sure people stood away from each other and behind these orange lines.
A security guard made sure people stood away from each other and behind these orange lines. CB

It was so surreal. Also, heartening, especially when compared to the huddled lines at the QFCs up and down Broadway. I've been self-quarantined since March 2, only leaving my house to take a long walk through the city twice this entire month. I'm very grateful some of these places have remained open. But what do you think? Should Seattle go full shelter-in-place? Have you noticed efforts to enforce social distancing? Let me know what you've seen. Send a pic, if you can.