Inslee moves 7 Western WA counties into Phase II
January 29, 2021
Gov. Jay Inslee today announced changes to the state’s Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery plan. Based on the changes, two regions (seven counties) in Western Washington will advance to Phase II of the plan effective Feb. 1, 2021.
This does not change anything for construction statewide. The construction industry continues to remain open and continues to be required to adhere to the Construction COVID-19 Job Site Requirements first introduced in May 2020.
Phase II allows more social interaction
While many of the restrictions of Phase I remain in place when regions advance to Phase II, Phase II allows:
- Social and at-home indoor gatherings of a maximum of five people from outside your household, limit of two households.
- Social and at-home outdoor gatherings with a maximum of 15 people from no more than two households.
- Indoor dining at 25% of capacity.
- Wedding and funeral ceremonies, indoor receptions, wakes or similar gatherings, following appropriate venue requirements. No dancing. Food and beverage requirements must be followed.
- Looser restrictions for sports and fitness facilities.
- Maximum of 200 or 25% capacity (whichever is lower) for indoor entertainment facilities like aquariums, indoor theaters, indoor bowling, etc.
- Groups of 15, limit two households per group, maximum 200, including spectators for events at various outdoor entertainment venues.
Read more about Phase I and Phase II here.
Changes to evaluation criteria and timeline
The governor changed the evaluation criteria for regions to move to Phase II. He also changed the timeline for regions to progress.
Previously, the governor required regions to meet all four of his metrics before advancing to the next phase. Today’s announcement requires them to only meet three of the four.
The four metrics remain the same. They are:
- Trend in case rate: Trend in 14-day rate of new COVID-19 cases per 100K population;
- Trend in hospital admissions rate: Trend in 14-day rate of new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100K population;
- Percent ICU occupancy: Average 7-day percent occupancy of ICU staffed beds; and
- Percent positivity: 7-day percent positive of COVID-19 tests.
The timeline for reviewing the metrics is now changed from once a week to once every two weeks.
Legislation to speed reopening stalled
The move comes after 1,637 people, including many builders, signed in to testify on Senate Bill 5114. SB 5114 advances the entire state to Phase II. Only 89 people signed in opposed to the move. The bill remains in committee despite efforts to pull it to the Senate floor for a vote.
How you can help
Thank you to everyone who signed in to show your support. Please help us keep the pressure on by signing in as directed to support or oppose bills in upcoming hearings. Watch for your weekly Lawmaker Review email or find the “We Need Your Help” flag on the www.biaw.com/news page for directions!