With state’s OK, Thurston County moves to Phase 2 of re-opening. Here’s what that means
Thurston County has been approved to move to Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s four-phase plan to gradually re-open the state from restrictions that have been in place to slow the spread of COVID-19, according to a news release from the state health department’s Joint Information Center.
The approval is effective immediately, and the OK from state Secretary of Health John Wiesman comes less than 24 hours after Thurston submitted its application. Thurston is now the second-largest county to move to Phase 2, behind Spokane County.
Businesses and activities that are permitted in Phase 2, with social distancing measures and health standards in place, include:
- Gathering with up to five people outside your household per week;
Outdoor recreation, such as camping, with up to five people from outside your household;
- In-home/domestic services, such as nannies and housecleaning;
- In-store retail purchases, with restrictions;
- Hair and nail salons/barbers;
- Pet grooming;
Real estate;
Restaurants and taverns, at less than 50% capacity, with tables seating no more than five people and no bar-area seating;
Additional construction phases;
- Remaining manufacturing; and
- Professional services/office-based businesses, though telework is still “strongly encouraged.”
A business can only reopen after it can implement guidelines set by the state, according to the letter Wiesman sent Thurston County Public Health Director Schelli Slaughter Wednesday.
Populations thought to be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, such as people who are 65 years old or older or who have underlying medical conditions, are encouraged to limit their participation in Phase 2 activities and business activities, according to the letter.
More about the governor’s gradual re-opening plan is available online: https://coronavirus.wa.gov/what-you-need-know/safe-start.
“Thank you so much to our staff and local hospitals for working hard to make sure the application we submitted was complete and ready for approval,” Thurston County Commission Chair John Hutchings said in a prepared statement. “We are excited to start opening Thurston County back up and get the local economy moving forward.
“Our obligations and responsibilities continue as we move into Phase 2. It’s imperative to keep our momentum going by masking up, respecting social distancing, and maintaining grouping maximums. We do not want to go backwards!”
Under the governor’s plan, each phase will last at least three weeks and could last longer. Variances to move from one phase to the next can be revoked if data shows circumstances in a county have changed.
Variance applications from Kittitas and Walla Walla counties were also approved Wednesday, bringing to 24 the number of Washington counties in Phase 2: Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Cowlitz, Ferry, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, Kittitas, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Pacific, Pend Orielle, San Juan, Skamania, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, and Whitman.
Clallam, Kitsap, and Klickitat are eligible to apply for a variance, and Clark County’s application is still on pause due to an outbreak investigation.
Though initial criteria limited variances to smaller counties, expanded criteria announced last week provided for variances for counties where there’s been fewer than 10 new cases per 100,000 residents over a 14-day span.
This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 10:47 AM with the headline "With state’s OK, Thurston County moves to Phase 2 of re-opening. Here’s what that means."
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