Seattle feels like ‘ghost town,’ business owners say as they face life in coronavirus hot spot

Alicia Victoria Lozano NBC NewsMarch 4, 2020, 10:21 AM CST

SEATTLE — It’s not her birthday for another month, but Ruby Francisco has been singing “Happy Birthday” a lot lately.

She does it every time she washes her hands.

“That’s what they said to do,” said Francisco, who owns a jewelry store here. “I tell my grandchildren to sing when they wash their hands so they do it right.”

This is life in the age of the coronavirus: sifting through rumors, feverishly following updates and doing whatever it takes to avoid the virus, which has infected more than 89,000 people worldwide and killed more than 3,100 of them.

In Seattle, bracing for the coronavirus also means preparing for what could be a devastating economic impact. Business owners and residents have already seen a drop-off in tourists in areas of the city that heavily depend on foot traffic.

Keep Reading

Image: Public spaces in Seattle are increasingly quiet amid a coronavirus outbreak in nearby Kirkland, business owners say.
Image: Public spaces in Seattle are increasingly quiet amid a coronavirus outbreak in nearby Kirkland, business owners say.
Domestic Travel Deals! Take up to $24 ◊off with Promo Code USA24. Book Now!
Image: Public spaces in Seattle are increasingly quiet amid a coronavirus outbreak in nearby Kirkland, business owners say.
Image: Public spaces in Seattle are increasingly quiet amid a coronavirus outbreak in nearby Kirkland, business owners say.
Image: A lone pair of gloves inside a Kirkland Walgreens, less than a mile from nursing home where at least 6 people have died from COVID-19.
Image: A lone pair of gloves inside a Kirkland Walgreens, less than a mile from nursing home where at least 6 people have died from COVID-19.
Fly Now, Pay Later. Easy monthly payments over 3, 6, or 12 months.
Outdoor Cooking

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*