Getting to Phase 3 in Skagit County

Now that Skagit County is near the end of its second week in Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start Plan for reopening Washington’s counties and economies during the COVID-19 pandemic, what is the path to advance to Phase 3?

Most of the county’s retail, service and manufacturing sectors are open at limited capacity under state guidances.

The Skagit County commissioners can apply to the secretary of Health to move to Phase 3 on June 24. The three week period allows a complete disease incubation period and an additional week to compile complete data and confirm trends.

The application will assess the progress of the County in five metrics the state is tracking for tackling the pandemic: COVID-19 activity, testing, healthcare system readiness, case investigations and contact tracing, and the protection of populations at higher risk.

Skagit County met all five metrics for the two week period ending June 13 as shown on the Washington Department of Health’s risk assessment dashboard.

The 19 cases are fewer than 25 per 100,000 population. The 149 people tested for each new case reported is greater than the goal of 50. The 0.7% of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 during the past week beat the 2% goal. For hospital bed capacity, the availability of licensed hospital beds for all patients and those with COVID-19 exceeds the state metrics.

Skagit County’s more current data on its Public Health Department website lists 23 cases from May 31-June 13. Eight cases were diagnosed from June 7-13.

The metric goals are targets, not hardline measures, according to the Washington State Department of Health website, and are to be considered in whole for reducing risk of disease transmission.

In providing an update Saturday, Gov. Inslee said, “To continue tackling this virus, we must increase testing and mask- wearing, and maintain physical distancing and hospital capacity, as well as target interventions for high-risk populations such as long-term care facilities and indoors, including close proximity workplace operations, such as food processing and agricultural housing.

“This is not the time to give up on efforts to protect ourselves, our families and our communities. We are still in the middle of a pandemic that is continuing to infect and kill Washingtonians.”

Through Monday, Skagit County had 463 cases and 15 deaths with 54 people hospitalized. Statewide there are 26,158 cases and 1,221 deaths.

Tuesday morning, three counties were in Phase 1, three counties were in a modified version of Phase 1, 22 counties were in Phase 2, and 11 counties were in Phase 3.