Watch: Gov. Jay Inslee coronavirus press conference on plans for reopening

Gov. Jay Inslee gave a press conference at 2:30 p.m. Friday to discuss the state’s phased approach to re-opening the economy and provide an update on contact tracing.

Watch the briefing below via TVW.

A week ago, Inslee announced his extension of his stay-at-home order through May 31 to continue the social distancing strategy against the new coronavirus pandemic.

The governor announced that Washington businesses will reopen in four phases. The first phase began May 5, but businesses can’t reopen until they meet specific criteria outlined in guidance memos from Inslee.

Inslee has issued such memos so far for the resumption of low-risk construction, auto and vessel sales, car washes, commercial driver licensing in-cab training and testing, low-risk higher education and critical infrastructure workforce training, and drive-in religious services.

Those memos are available here.

Contact tracing involves identifying people who have been in contact with a person infected with COVID-19. The state is training National Guardsmen along with state and local workers to do the work as part of Washington’s efforts to reopen the economy.

This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 9:47 AM.