Gov. Inslee allows 5 counties to move into Phase 2 of reopening
Oct 13, 2020, 3:37 PM | Updated: Oct 3, 2024, 8:21 am
Gov. Jay Inslee. (TVW)
(TVW)
Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday that five Washington counties will be allowed to move forward in the reopening process, shifting out of a modified Phase 1 and into Phase 2.
This comes after Gov. Inslee had put a pause on the reopening process statewide in July, effectively freezing the progression through phases of his Safe Start plan. As of Tuesday, exceptions have now been made to that freeze, allowing Yakima, Benton, Franklin, Douglas, and Chelan counties to move into Phase 2.
“Local leaders in these counties have made tremendous progress,” Inslee said.
In early June, Yakima was averaging 753 COVID cases per every 100,000 people, and at the time, was the epicenter of Washington’s outbreak.
The county has since knocked that number down to 93 cases per 100,000. Benton has seen a significant dip as well, sitting at 109 cases per 100,000, “one quarter of what they were in July,” Inslee noted, pointing to “similar trends in Franklin and Chelan.”
Phase 2 allows restaurants to serve at 50% capacity, while retail is allowed to operate at 30% capacity. Individuals may also gather with five or fewer people from outside their household per week. Under a modified Phase 1, counties are able to operate at half those capacities. You can read the full guidelines for what’s allowed in each phase here.
This announcement came roughly a week after Inslee relaxed restrictions on restaurants, movie theaters, youth sports, and more.
That included a measure allowing movie theaters in Phase 2 counties to reopen at 25% capacity, and at 50% in Phase 3. Customers at movie theaters are still required to wear masks, and have to stay six feet away from each other at all times.
Additionally, restaurants were given the ability to serve alcohol until 11 p.m., extending a previous restriction by an hour. Capacity at tables was increased to six people in Phase 2, and eight in Phase 3. Inslee also eliminated a restriction that made it so you could only dine at restaurants with members of your own household.
