Gov. Inslee announces Jefferson County will move to Phase 2 Monday

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Jefferson County will move into Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Roadmap to Recovery COVID-19 reopening plan Monday, the governor announced in a press conference Thursday afternoon.

“We just opened up 92 percent of the state of Washington,” Inslee said.

Jefferson, Clallam, Kitsap, and Mason counties make up the Northwest region under the Roadmap to Recovery plan.

Inslee said during his news conference that the Northwest region and four others (East, North, North Central, and Southwest) can move into Phase 2 next week.

The governor said the move to Phase 2 was made because science was directing the decision, and the number of COVID-19 cases were dropping in the state.

“We make decisions based on science,” Inslee said.

Earlier this year, state officials said regions could advance in the reopening plan if three of the following four metrics were met:

• The trend in 14-day rate of new COVID-19 cases per 100k population;

• The trend in 14-day rate of new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100k population;

• The average seven-day percent occupancy of ICU staffed beds; and

• The seven-day percent positive of COVID-19 tests.

Inslee said that while the state was seeing reductions in the number of cases, the threat of new variants of COVID-19 being discovered in Washington state remains.

But the governor noted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that wearing two masks can increase the effectiveness of facial coverings to roughly 90 percent.

“I think this is super news,” Inslee said.

“These masks can really save our lives,” he said. “This is great news for us.”

He said the good news was a “Tacoma two-step” of sorts; with businesses being able to reopen, and Washingtonians being able to further protect themselves from infections by wearing two masks.

“With just with a piece of cloth we can protect ourselves while waiting for our turn in line for the vaccine.”

“You don’t have to wait in line to get a mask,” Inslee said.

The governor also noted Washington has doubled its vaccination rate over the past two weeks.

Under Phase 2 restrictions, restaurants and bars can reopen for indoor dining to 25 percent gatherings.

Outdoor social gatherings can increase to a maximum of 15 people from outside the household (with a limit of two households).

Indoor social gatherings can increase to a maximum of five people (with a limit of two households).

Indoor ceremonies, weddings, and wakes are also permitted, with some restrictions.

Low and moderate risk sports competitions are also allowed under Phase 2.

Indoor entertainment establishments can reopen at 25 percent capacity in Phase 2.