Inslee starts COVID-19 ‘Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery’

Gov. Jay Inslee signed the “Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery” proclamation he introduced last week on Monday, Jan. 11.

The plan uses a two phase and regional approach to evaluate progress in reducing the coronavirus pandemic and opening the state’s economy. All regions start in Phase 1. Skagit County is in the North Region with Island, San Juan and Whatcom counties.

Phase 1 continues the governor’s limits on people’s abilities to engage in economic and social activities.

Restaurants cannot have indoor dining and limits are placed on outdoor dining and hours. Retail stores remain capped at 25% customer capacity.

Museums are not open for general admission and are limited to six people from individual households for private tours.

At-home and social activities remain restricted, with no indoor gatherings beyond the family. Outdoor groups are capped at 10 people from two households. Worship services continue to have an indoor maximum of 25% capacity. Weddings and funerals are limited to 30 people, with no indoor activities.

Four metrics must be met to go to Phase 2. The metrics measure key COVID-19 trends and healthcare system readiness within each region. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) will evaluate progress weekends to pass regions into Phase 2. To remain in Phase 2, regions must meet trend downward in three of the four metrics. Regions in Phase 2 that fail to meet two or of the metrics will be moved back to Phase 1.

Phase 1 metrics are 1. Decreasing trend in two-week rate of COVID-19 cases per 100K population; 2. Decreasing trend in two-week rate new COVID-19 hospital admission rates per 100K population; 3. ICU occupancy of less than 90%; and 4. COVID-19 test positivity rate of less than 10%.

A statewide report from DOH dated Jan. 8 tracks trends from late November to Jan. 2, depending on the metric. The different time frames are a result of different data sources DOH integrates.

Skagit County’s north region is trending downward or reporting low rates in three of the four metrics. It is failing in new COVID-19 hospital admissions, with a 50% increase in the two week period ending Jan. 2. Any new coronavirus hospital admissions count as an increase.

The proclamation is effective immediately, and extends through the COVID-19 state of emergency.

For state information: coronavirus.wa.gov/.