Inslee modifies covid recovery protocols

On Tuesday, Governor Jay Inslee announced a new phased regional recovery plan for the State of Washington. The goal of the plan is to ease some restrictions, addressing the continued need for hospital capacity and health care during the pandemic while “paving the way for economic recovery.”

There are eight regions in the plan, based on health care services available. Wahkiakum County joins Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, and Skamania to form the Southwest region.

Phase 1 begins for all regions on January 11. Indoor social gatherings, at home or otherwise are prohibited, and outdoor gatherings, at home or otherwise, are limited to 10 people from outside your household, or two households. Worship services will have an indoor capacity of 25 percent. Retail stores, which includes farmers markets, will be limited to 25 percent capacity, with curbside pick up encouraged.

Professional services are limited to 25 percent capacity, with remote work encouraged. Indoor personal services are limited to 25 percent capacity. Indoor dining is prohibited, and bars where no food is served are to remain closed. Outdoor dining is allowed until 11 p.m., with a maximum of six people at a table, or two households. Weddings and funerals are limited to 30 people, and indoor receptions, wakes, or similarly related gatherings are prohibited. Low risk indoor sports are permitted for practice and training only. Appointment based indoor fitness training for one person is acceptable. Low and moderate risk outdoor sports are permitted for practice and training. As for outdoor entertainment, ticketed events will be permitted, including zoos, outdoor theaters, concert venues, and rodeos.

To move into Phase 2, regions must show at least a 10 percent decrease in the trend of their two week rate of covid-19 cases per 100,000 population; at least a 10 percent decrease in the trend of their two week rate of new covid-19 hospital admission rates per 100,000 population, have an ICU occupancy (covid-19 and non-covid-19) of less than 90 percent, and have a covid-19 test positivity rate of less than 10 percent.

To remain in Phase 2, the region must meet three of these four metrics:

• Decreasing or flat trend in two week rate of covid-19 cases per 100,000 population,

• Decreasing or flat trend in two week rate of new covid-19 hospital admission rates per 100,000,

• An ICU occupancy (covid-19 and non covid-19) of less than 90 percent, and

• A covid-19 test positive rate of less than 10 percent.

While the limits for worship services, retail stores, and professional and personal services will not change in Phase 2, indoor social gatherings will be allowed, with a maximum of five people from outside the household, or a total of two households. Outdoor gatherings, at home or otherwise, will have a limit of 15 people from outside the household, or two households. Indoor dining will be allowed, at 25 percent capacity, and terms for outdoor dining remain the same as in Phase 1. Ceremonies and indoor receptions will be permitted, but venue requirements must be followed, as well as eating and drinking requirements. Dancing is prohibited. Low and moderate risk sports will be allowed indoors and out, excepting tournaments, and fitness and training indoors is limited to 25 percent capacity.

Masks and social distancing will still be required for all activities.

For a more detailed account, go to:

https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-announces-healthy-washington-roadmap-to-recovery-229b880a6859