Whitman County enters Phase 2

May 21, 20200

By Jana Mathia

Colfax – The Washington State Secretary of Health John Wiesman approved Whitman County’s Phase II waiver request, effective immediately, May 14, two days after the application was submitted.

“I sincerely appreciate the extra effort our Public Health Department has put in to putting the application together,” said County Commission Chair Michael Largent. Largent said he was very pleased and “frankly somewhat surprised” at the speed which the clearance was given.

With the variance granted, more activities and businesses are able to open in the county. Outdoor recreation and gatherings involving up to five people outside a household are now permitted. Limited non-essential travel is also allowed.

Businesses that may open are: remaining manufacturing, in-home/domestic services such as nannies and housekeeping, in-store retail purchases with restrictions, real estate, professional services/office-based businesses, hair and nail salons/barbers, pet grooming and restaurants/taverns at 50 percent or less with table size limited to five.

According to the press release from the Whitman County Emergency Operations Center, businesses may reopen only if they follow the guidelines for reopening which can be found at coronavirus.wa.gov/what-you-need-know/safe-start. People in high risk populations are strongly encouraged to limit their participation in Phase II activities. Those include persons 65 years of age or older, those with underlying medical conditions and people living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities.

The county must wait a minimum of three weeks for a monitoring period before it can receive authorization to move on to Phase III.

The EOC announced another positive COVID-19 test, bringing the total to 18. The new case is a female in the 20 to 39 age bracket. She is stable and isolating at home.

“Current COVID-19 activity highlights the need for individuals to maintain social distancing and personal vigilance,” states the EOC release.

At a May 18 Washington State Association of Counties meeting, Wiesman spoke to commissioners about moving on to the next phases for reopening. According to Largent, Wiesman’s opinion was he does not see the state entering Phase IV by the end of the year.

Phase III would allow for gatherings up to 50.