Rep. Rodgers: Coronavirus focus should be on state/federal cooperation, not partisanship

Coronavirus fears and anxiety are intensifying as more and more cases are being revealed. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Spokane took part in last week’s coronavirus task force meeting with Vice President Mike Pence, and joined the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH to discuss Pence’s visit and how the state is handling the spread.

“He described Washington State is being the tip of the spear, that we’re on the front lines and he was very complimentary of the work that’s being done on the ground of our our health department officials, both of the state and the local level,” she said.

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One of the striking notes about the visit was the sight of Vice President working alongside Governor Jay Inslee, who a few days previously sent out a Tweet criticizing the Vice President.

“We need the coordination, and I was pleased to see that. This is not a time for trying to score cheap political points. This is a time for us to be focusing on saving lives and providing the health care that people need. So there is a rule for the federal government, the state government, the local government. We need that communication, that coordination because it really is all hands on deck.”

On school closings

Should parents feel comfortable sending their kids to school? There’s been some inconsistencies in the messaging. In Snohomish County, for instance, the health district is saying not to head into groups of 50 or more, but they’re also not mandating that schools close down, which Jason noted seems in conflict.

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“Well, it’s still district by district making those decisions. Something that will be comforting for parents who have school age children is that it doesn’t seem like this virus is impacting kids as much,” she said. “They mentioned yesterday that there’s no cases of someone under the age of 10 in China that has died from coronavirus. No one under the age of 30 in South Korea, and that they anticipate that it has a mild to moderate impact on the younger population.”

“Having said that, we still have to be really smart and and used good judgment and so on. A school superintendent is going to be advised by local health districts, by state health, as well as the CDC on a district by district basis.”

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