Inslee gathers business leaders to talk about phased efforts to reopen

Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday enlisted business leaders to support his four-phased approach to reopening Washington’s economy and continued to urge residents to remain at home unless they need to do something essential.

At a press conference Thursday, the governor also said it may be an option — not a requirement — for people to give their name and contact information when dine-in restaurant service resumes at half-capacity. Some have raised questions about privacy issues.

“I think where we’re going to end up is we’re going to give customers an option about leaving a phone number or the like so that they can be contacted.

“I do think it makes sense if you go to a restaurant and if you want to know later that you may have sat next to somebody that was infected, you may want to know about that for your own safety,” he added.

The requirement for restaurants to keep a daily log with the name and contact information of their customers is part of the second phase of reopening that affects businesses that were deemed “non-essential” when the governor issued his stay-at-home order in March to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

Phase 2 is scheduled to begin June 1 throughout the state, but Inslee repeated Thursday that there’s no guarantee of that timeframe. So far, eight counties with low populations and no COVID-19 deaths have received a variance from the governor’s office to move to phase 2 now. They are: Columbia, Garfield, Lincoln, Ferry, Pend Oreille, Wahkiakum, Skamania, and Stevens counties.

Inslee said the governor’s office is working on criteria to add larger counties to that list.

Asked what advice he has for people given that more businesses are reopening, Inslee said he doesn’t want his family members to go out unless it’s essential.

“Anything that is going to involve particularly an inside interaction with people, particularly for anything that involves any length of time, is just too dangerous to do right now.

“So it’s too dangerous to go over to a friend’s house and be in their living room for an hour right now. That indoor situation just spreads the virus. The virus becomes contained. That doesn’t make sense,” he said.

When phase 2 begins, Inslee said he would have no qualms about eating at a restaurant, because protocols will be in place to keep customers and employees safe. But except for the eight rural counties, the rest of the state remains in phase 1.

For auto dealers, phase 1 means customers must contact a dealership by phone, e-mail or through its website. A salesperson or manager working from home responds and guides the customer through the dealership’s website to review models and features.

The vehicle must be delivered in a sanitized room or sanitized service area at the dealership. High-touch surfaces are sanitized after every transaction. Delivery can also be done outside or at a location of the customer’s choosing with appropriate distancing.

Jen Moran, the executive manager of a family-owned auto group in the Seattle area, told Inslee that it was “painful” when he issued the stay-at-home order in March that said auto dealers had to shut down.

She noted that the governor allowed for a limited number of vehicle sales to essential workers without reliable transportation or to those who had a vehicle that was impractical to repair.

“This gave auto dealers the chance to perfect how we can sell cars safely,” she said.

Anthony Anton, president and chief executive officer of the Washington Hospitality Association, and Renee Sunde, president and CEO of the Washington Retail Association, joined Moran in thanking Inslee for his leadership.

This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 6:07 PM.