Thurston submits Phase 3 application, awaits state’s response
Thurston County on Wednesday submitted an application for a variance to move to Phase 3 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Safe Start” plan to reopen the economy from shutdowns prompted by COVID-19.
For now, the county remains in Phase 2 and awaits a decision from the state Secretary of Health.
The Thurston County Board of Health and Board of County Commissioners, which are made up of the same three commissioners, voted unanimously to submit the application in meetings early Wednesday, the first day the county was eligible to apply. The county has been in Phase 2 of reopening since May 27.
The application was officially submitted about 4 p.m. Wednesday, according to County Manager Ramiro Chavez.
Target metrics set by the state Department of Health span disease activity, healthcare system readiness, testing capacity, capacity for case and contact investigations, and ability to protect high-risk populations.
Acting Thurston County Health Officer Dr. Diana Yu told commissioners Wednesday that she’s confident in the capacities of the local public health and medical communities to handle an outbreak of COVID-19, and that her one concern is the ability of citizens to follow protective measures outlined for them.
“We’re going to have to live with COVID-19 for a while,” Yu said. “And we will move forward, the public health system and the medical care system will continue to respond. But if we can prevent the cases from happening, that would be the best way to live with COVID.”
What to expect in Phase 3
Changes in a move to Phase 3 include increased occupancy for places such as restaurants, taverns, and gyms, and the ability to gather in larger groups of up to 50 people. However, Yu pointed out that these modifications still require physical distancing. For instance, a small restaurant may not actually be able to host guests at the higher (less than 75%) capacity allowed in Phase 3 while maintaining 6 feet of distance between tables.
“Even outdoors, when you have 50 people, you have to have 50 people that are at least 6 feet apart unless you’re a household or family members,” she said, as an example.
Businesses in Phase 3 are required to comply with state guidance and write safety plans that outline how they will prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, according to a news release from the county. A template for the plans, which businesses will need to keep on-hand, is on the governor’s website.
Commissioners John Hutchings and Tye Menser also reiterated Yu’s refrain that people need to take the responsibility seriously to comply with protective measures, such as wearing face coverings, washing hands, and staying home when sick.
“I am wary yet encouraged to move into Phase 3 of Safe Start,” Hutchings, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, said in a prepared statement. “It is vitally important for businesses to reengage, people return to work, folks get out of their houses to shop, eat and recreate. If Thurston County is approved for Phase 3, a reversion back to Phase 2 could be devastating economically and psychologically so please follow Dr. Yu’s advice, mask up, and keep yourself and others protected!”
What comes next for Thurston County
Thurston County’s application for a variance to move from Phase 1 to Phase 2 in May was approved within 24 hours, but Public Health Director Schelli Slaughter told commissioners that local health jurisdictions have been told not to expect as fast a response to their more in-depth Phase 3 applications. She hopes to hear a response from the state Department of Health by the end of the week.
Secretary of Health John Wiesman can approve plans as submitted or with modifications, or he can deny applications altogether, according to DOH. He also can modify a county’s phase or move it back to an earlier phase, and counties can “identify when they need to return to an earlier phase or eliminate approved activities.”
As of Wednesday, the state Department of Health was reporting three Washington counties in Phase 1, three in a modified Phase 1, 21 in Phase 2, and 12 in Phase 3. Applications from Island, Lewis, and Mason counties to move to Phase 3 and an application from King County to move to Phase 2 are under review, according to DOH. Applications from Benton and Franklin counties to move to Phase 2 have been paused.
Barring new guidance from the state, this week’s action is likely to be the last application for a variance that Thurston County will submit for the near future. In response to a question from Commissioner Gary Edwards, Slaughter said that while the details of Phase 4 have not been released, that phase is essentially a return to normal activities without restrictions.
“We don’t expect to be able to move to Phase 4 until there is a treatment or vaccine for COVID-19,” Slaughter said, with the caveat that other guidance could be developed.
Coming soon: A new Thurston County Health Officer
Also on Wednesday, the Thurston County Board of Health voted to appoint a new, permanent Health Officer, concluding a months-long, national search. The position has been filled by interim health officers, such as Dr. Yu, since Dr. Rachel Wood left the post late last year.
Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek will soon relocate from California, according to discussion at the meeting, and will officially step into her role as Thurston County’s Health Officer July 1.
Commissioners, Yu, and Slaughter all expressed excitement for the arrival of Abdemalek, who in a brief introduction said she’s excited to “take on the challenges of COVID-19 and help keep Thurston County safe and healthy” in addition to the health department’s other work.
The masking directive Dr. Yu issued in May, which requires residents to wear cloth face coverings in some public settings, will remain in effect in Phase 3 and should stay in place until COVID-19 is no longer present, Yu said at Wednesday’s meeting, though Dr. Abdemalek will need to reaffirm it when she’s Health Officer.
There also is a state-mandated masking directive in effect for workers, Yu said, so employees may need to comply with those requirements as well.
The state website dedicated to Washington’s coronavirus response includes more detail on cloth face masks and the state’s directive: https://coronavirus.wa.gov/information-for/you-and-your-family/face-masks-or-cloth-face-covering.
This story was originally published June 17, 2020 at 4:25 PM.
.jpg)