OPINION: Pullman needs stronger COVID-19 enforcement
Pullman, WSU police need to crack down harder on offenders
Students and community members breaking COVID-19 social distancing guidelines need to be reprimanded and dealt with by law enforcement.
September 10, 2020
Whitman County is a growing COVID-19 hot spot in the United States with 1,659 cases per 100,000 residents. Pullman hosts many of those cases as WSU students slowly returned to school.
There are currently two testing sites in Pullman: one outside of Cougar Health Services, and one at the Steptoe Village Apartments, which the Washington National Guard set up.
Parties seem to be the main culprit of the coronavirus spread.
“Any activity … a party that is being held where they’re not social distancing, that is in excess of ten people and not wearing masks … is detrimental to the public health, and the host is held responsible,” said Pullman Chief of Police Gary Jenkins.
Jenkins said he feels that his officers wish they did not have to be the enforcers while giving out COVID-19 infractions.
The police are doing what they are told, and that is to uphold their responsibility of writing infractions. In the long run, it will hopefully deter students from being irresponsible and drive down COVID-19 cases in Whitman County. If everybody wears masks, transmission can be decreased.
Max Arend, junior criminal justice and criminology major, said the police are in a tough spot, but he is still frustrated.
“I can see there being a fine, but there should at least be a warning,” Arend said.
Arend said he has walked past bars and restaurants where nobody has masks on, and the spread of COVID-19 is likely very high in those enclosed spaces. He said he wishes the COVID-19 rules were more consistent between frat parties and bars where the spread of the coronavirus could be equal.
Arend said he had been to grocery stores in Pullman and saw multiple people not wearing masks.
“The only people who aren’t wearing masks are the people who live [in Pullman], and you have all the fraternity kids … wearing WSU masks,” Arend said. “The people who live in this town don’t want to wear masks, but the kids who are coming in are doing the right thing.”
Jenkins said they are focusing on larger groups because the virus spreads easily in crowds and can easily get out of control if not taken seriously.
Jenkins said there has been a lot of compliance with the COVID-19 mandates. The Pullman Police Department is working with the university and community leaders to ensure everybody knows the severity of the disease when exposed to vulnerable populations, he said. The real damage is done when the very few people who do not follow the rules go in public and amplify the spread of the virus.
The first-time infraction of $250 might seem harsh when taken at face value, but during a pandemic, public health guidelines need to be taken seriously. At the end of the day, the police are doing what is in the best interest of Pullman.
The sooner everybody – students and Pullman locals – follow the laws, wear masks and observe the social distancing rules, the sooner WSU and everything else will be back to normal.
Raul Fernandez • Sep 12, 2020 at 11:51 am
975 total cases, 82 today. Mr. Arend is trying to reduce it, but I believe it is clear that this problem has been created by WSU and its students.
In the meeting with Gov. Inslee (we don’t know what really happens or if new measures will be taken) Kirk Schulz said: “The steps we’re taking and the strong partnerships we’ve forged over the past several months at the local, state, and federal levels are critical to our overall success in helping contain this global pandemic.” Of course, there is not any success now and we must pray to avoid the propagation to an adult residence in Pullman; but if the steps WSU are taking are just “to ask students” (not to enforce them) to take the tests probably will never have any success. I don’t understand why the students rarely use masks on Campus and why Chinook is open (where formally students can study, socialize, eat and exercise all under one roof).
Mike Honcho • Sep 11, 2020 at 6:24 pm
Hundreds of cases, zero hospitalizations…….. Release the hounds and let them have parties. 30 days from now you will have herd immunity. Those who are compromised can shelter in place. Anything other than this will prolong transmission.
Chris Potwora • Sep 11, 2020 at 11:31 am
A quick web search shows that Pullman regional hospital has covid testing in addition to thebteo sites mentioned. Seems like it would be worth mentioning.
Elizabeth Siler • Sep 11, 2020 at 1:37 am
Pullman people wear masks. We have been doing so from the beginning. The case rate blew up when the students came back. Drive through campus some night – no social distancing happening and no masks being worn. Whole lot of students who seem to think they are immune – but they are not.
James Lohr • Sep 10, 2020 at 9:48 pm
Oops, I should’ve said the first person commenting not interviewed for article.
James Lohr • Sep 10, 2020 at 9:46 pm
Got to say that if it is the local residents not following the COVID protocols then why has the rate of case increased drastically over the last three to four weeks. Also since the mask mandate was made I have only seen three or four people in grocery stores not wearing a mask. In a Restaurants, bars, lounges and taverns it is hard to eat or drink wearing a mask. All the staff at these locations I have seen wear a mask whenever in contact with the public. Either way individual interviewed in this story is living in his imagination.
Alumni and Pullman resident
Susan Cao • Sep 10, 2020 at 8:38 pm
You think community members aren’t wearing masks??? We had 42 cases total as of July 1 and then the students began arriving. August 1 we had 105. Now September 10th we have 913.
Spending 45 minutes eating at a table in a restaurant where tables are sanitized between patrons, is not the same as frat parties that go on for hours with no social distancing at all and likely sharing of drinks or physical contact.
And the county health department has reported that virtually every single case is between 18 and 25 years old.
Arend’s opinion flies in the face of the actual FACTS in this situation.
Scott Foster • Sep 10, 2020 at 6:28 pm
I too, disagree with Arend’s comment. I frequent grocery stores in Pullman several times a week. I realize my experience is anecdotal, but I can count on one hand the times I’ve seen people not wearing masks. It’s the same in all three grocery stores in town. Mr Arend’s experience may be different. I think it’s not helpful to paint all local residents with the same broad brush.
Mitzy Gaynor • Sep 10, 2020 at 6:03 pm
I find it particularly galling that anyone would state ” The only people who are not wearing masks are the people of Pullman, and the fraternity brothers are all wearing WSU masks”. I have driven tnrough campus MANY times and I have never seen anyone wearing a mask. I always see people wearing masks at Safeway and everywhere in town. Both WSU and the studenta are at fault for bringing COVID to Pullman. WSU with their poor planning, cowardly administration and last minute decision to go online for the semester, and the students, with their careless, immature, selfish pandemic behavior. I wish you all would go home and make your own families sick and spare the town your irresponsible ways. It really makes me sad to see people treat this town, so accomidating of WSU, as if it doesn’t matter at all. Man up and behave for six months — if you cannot stop boozing for that period of time, maybe it is time to check out the local AA meeting — online because of COVID.
Jason Martin • Sep 10, 2020 at 3:31 pm
I disagree with some statements. I work on campus in a dorm and daily see multiple students not wearing mask or social distancing in the building or outside when it is mandatory in building. it’s the students not people of Pullman. my building has had 5 students in the last few weeks and other buildings with students being sent to quarantine..sad but true.and yes police need to step it up especially on campus.thanks
Johnston • Sep 10, 2020 at 2:14 pm
If the author is a freshman I will assume you aren’t old enough to be in a bar.
Second, did you actually survey individuals to determine that they weren’t students.
Third, we may need a new editor who let this be published
Pullman • Sep 10, 2020 at 9:57 am
The community is wearing masks and the only thing that changed was students coming to Pullman and not following rules that have been set for months. University of Idaho does not have this issue. This was a big miss by WSU and the students.
Tom • Sep 10, 2020 at 9:21 am
Pullman is just a small city Compared with large cities with a population of one million. It is not difficult to control the spread of the epidemic. Just close all unnecessary businesses ,everyone stays at home for two weeks. Close bars and restaurants immediately. The party organizer will be punished severely. Long-term pain is worse than short-term pain.
john klover • Sep 10, 2020 at 7:58 am
I have to strongly disagree with this statement!
The only people who aren’t wearing masks are the people who live [in Pullman], and you have all the fraternity kids … wearing WSU masks,” Arend said. “The people who live in this town don’t want to wear masks, but the kids who are coming in are doing the right thing.
Myself like most of the year round residents of Pullman have successfully flattened the curve. For the last six months.
As soon as the college community came back to town. Numbers started going up.
Locals are not partying in large groups
Students are. To say that locals don’t want to wear masks is an opinion at best. How do you differentiate between the two ? By the logo on the mask ? .