
Officials in Washington state have moved to fill four properties bought to house those unable to self-quarantine (AFP Photo/Michelle WALLARD MARTIN)
Michelle Wallar MARTIN AFP March 17, 2020, 1:25 AM CDT
Officials in Washington state have moved to fill four properties bought to house those unable to self-quarantine
Officials in Washington state have moved to fill four properties bought to house those unable to self-quarantine (AFP Photo/Michelle WALLARD MARTIN)
Seattle (AFP) – A project to set up “quarantine motels” in the US coronavirus epicenter of Washington state has infuriated local residents who fear they will be exposed to a high risk of infection.
More than half of all US novel coronavirus deaths so far have struck in King County, which encompasses the city of Seattle. The region has suffered 43 fatalities.
With the entire northwestern state going into lockdown Monday — bars, restaurants, gyms and museums are all closed — officials have moved to fill four properties bought to house those unable to self-quarantine.

Kent mayor Dana Ralph has called for heightened security including physical fencing (AFP Photo/Michelle WALLARD MARTIN)

The scheme is intended to relieve hospitals as resources grow increasingly stretched by the pandemic (AFP Photo/Michelle WALLARD MARTIN)