3 more Washington counties can ease virus restrictions early

Published 1:30 am Monday, May 11, 2020

Associated Press

OLYMPIA — Three more rural Washington counties have been given the OK to relax some COVID-19 stay-home restrictions early as the state moves through the reopening process.

Washington Secretary of Health John Wiesman on Monday approved applications from Wahkiakum, Skamania and Stevens counties to move into Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s reopening plan. Columbia, Garfield, Lincoln, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties had previously been given the go-ahead to enter Phase 2. In Phase 2, among the things that would be allowed are in-store retail purchases, with some restrictions, hair salons, barbers, and restaurants at half capacity and tables of fewer than five people.

Inslee last week announced that his stay-home restrictions would be extended through at least May 31 and said there will be a four-stage phase in for lifting of restrictions. There will be a minimum of three weeks between each phase, but rural counties that meet certain metrics are allowed to apply to speed up the phases.

To apply for a variance, counties must have a population of less than 75,000 and no new cases of COVID-19 in the past three weeks.

Inslee has already eased some restrictions across the state, allowing parks to reopen, fishing and golf. And last Friday Inslee said that curbside retail sales in Washington could begin almost immediately for businesses, with reopening plans approved by health officials.

Nearly 16,900 people in Washington have tested positive for the virus and at least 931 have died. The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in most patients, and the vast majority recover. But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness and death in some patients, particularly the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.