Reliable contact tracing is a fundamental requirement for successfully re-opening the state without allowing coronavirus to spread. To do this, people must be willing to share detailed information about their activities with contact tracers, usually from the government or a medical organization. Understandably, many people have some concerns about sharing this information – one of these concerns was some uncertainty over whether their information could become public, once shared.
To address this specific issue, Inslee has issued a proclamation declaring that all information gathered for this purpose is exempt from any Public Records requests.
https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/proc_20-64.pdf
Unfortunately, another way people have reacted to the uncertainty and hardships created by the pandemic has been to threaten and attack public health officials and facilities. Inslee adds a reminder in the proclamation that this is a crime, along with setting criminal penalties for anyone who should leak the information now being protected:
- It is a crime to intimidate a public servant and violators may be subject to criminal penalties pursuant to RCW 9A.76.180
- Violators of this order may be subject to criminal penalties pursuant to RCW 43.06.220(5).