Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
COLFAX – Whitman County Commissioners and Board of Health will meet Friday, June 5, to consider and possibly take action on requesting a variance to move into Phase III of Gov. Jay Inslee’s reopening plan.
“The application package is pretty much the same as last time with the same letters and recommendations needed, except a new set of metrics has been created by the Governor for use by the State Department of Health to use in making this determination to approve or reject,” stated Commissioner Art Swannack.
Public Health Director Troy Henderson has staff working on the application. According to Swannack, Henderson believes Whitman County qualifies to move into the next phase.
Once approved, Henderson will submit the plan the same day to DOH. The expected wait time is three days after submission for a determination. Meeting times are 10 a.m. for the Board of Health and 10:15 a.m. for the commissioners. The meeting will be conducted on the Zoom platform.
According to Swannack, the Governor’s office has stated they are working to get those guidance documents out faster than occurred with Phase II.
Beginning June 8, per Gov. Inslee’s Safe Start plan, all employees will be required to wear a cloth facial covering, except when working alone in an office, vehicle or at a job site, or when the job has no in-person interaction.
Employers must provide cloth facial coverings to employees. Employers must also post signage at their place of business strongly encouraging customers to wear cloth facial coverings.
As of May 26, Washington businesses that decide to open or operate in direct violation of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order may be cited and fined for unsafe workplace conditions under emergency rules filed by the state Department of Labor & Industries.
The emergency rules give L&I the authority to cite businesses for being open or for operating in a way that is purposely defying the phased-in approach and, as a result, putting their workers at risk.
Jana Mathia is a reporter at the Whitman County Gazette.
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