MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Snohomish, Pierce, King counties prepare to ease stay-at-home restrictions

Jun 2, 2020, 8:20 AM | Updated: 10:13 am

Durkan Constantine Inslee immigration, lawsuit against 976. counties, King County...

Jay Inslee, Dow Constantine, and Jenny Durkan. (King County)

(King County)

Washington’s three largest counties are in the process of asking the state to begin lifting restrictions on gatherings and businesses.

Why Yakima is seeing one of the worst outbreaks in Washington

Snohomish County was the first of the three to submit a variance to the state health department that would allow the county to move into Phase 2. The 80-page document was sent out Monday night.

County Executive Dave Somers says he expects a decision fairly quickly on the application. If approved, restaurants could reopen for dine-in service at 50% capacity. Barbers, salons, and tattoo parlors could reopen at limited capacity as well, while in-store retail sales could begin again.

Snohomish County was already preparing to ask for a variance on Friday when the state tweaked the rules on infection rates that could allow it to successfully move into Phase 2. On Friday, the state moved the bar on the infection rate from 10 new cases per 100,000 people over two weeks to 25 cases. Snohomish County is well within that new threshold.

Pierce County is in the same position. Its infection rate is about 18 new cases per 100,000 people, similar to Snohomish County. Pierce County Council voted Monday night to apply for a variance from the state — all the application needs is a signature from the county executive.

King County is not quite ready to apply for Phase 2, but it was supposed to approve an application for a move into a modified Phase 1 on Monday. The county website says it has not yet done so, and that when it does, “it will likely take several days to be approved by the state.”

What can we expect from COVID-19 outbreak with summer looming?

A modified Phase 1 would include some of the same easing of restrictions found under Phase 2, but with differing capacity requirements. For example, in Phase 2, a restaurant can open at 50% capacity. Under King County’s modified Phase 1, restaurants would only be allowed to have outdoor dining at 50% of capacity, but nothing indoors.

Under those same guidelines, in-store retail would be limited to 15% capacity, while “professional services” would be reopened at 25% capacity, with “indoor services limited to 30 minutes for customers.”

It will be up to the health department to decide on the county applications. It can either accept them, accept them with modifications, or deny them outright. It can also demote counties if they slide backwards.

MyNorthwest News

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

1 hour ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

1 hour ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

3 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

6 hours ago

Kia Boys...

Kate Stone and Bill Kaczaraba

‘Kia Boyz’ allegedly execute a crime spree in south King County

Renton police chased down a 14-and 16-year-old but are still looking for two other teen suspects in what they said was a "crime spree" in south King County.

7 hours ago

Spanaway woman shot dead...

Kate Stone

Search for shooter continues after woman shot dead while driving in Spanaway

A 47-year-old woman was shot dead in Spanaway, causing her to hit another driver head-on early Wednesday morning.

8 hours ago

Snohomish, Pierce, King counties prepare to ease stay-at-home restrictions