Evergreen Reporter

Eight Washington state counties have been approved for Phase 2 of a COVID-19 plan to reopen the economy and recreation, which was issued by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and allows for county variance requests.

Variances have been approved for Wahkiakum, Skamania, Stevens, Columbia, Garfield, Lincoln, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties, Q13 FOX reported. 

The counties can now move into Phase 2 of the Safe Start Washington: A Phased Approach to Recovery order to reopen Washington and modify social distancing. Inslee signed the approval on May 4.

The plan includes three phases, with Phase 1 of the reopening having begun on May 5.

Each phase will last at least three weeks before moving to the next phase. Inslee will order movement through each phase based on the decrease of coronavirus cases and four capabilities that are met. Capabilities are health care system readiness, testing capacity and availability, case and contact investigations and ability to protect high-risk populations, according to the plan.

County variance requests are allowed and are based on low coronavirus counts and population.

“The Department of Health recognizes that there are currently some small counties with a population of less than 75,000 that have not identified a resident with COVID-19 for the past three weeks. These counties have the opportunity to apply for a variance to move to Phase II of this plan before the rest of the state,” the plan said.

Counties in Phase 2 may open remaining manufacturing and additional construction phases, hair and nail salons, retail, real estate, professional services, pet grooming, in-home/domestic services and restaurants (with less than 50% capacity and table sizes being no larger than five). Among the recreational activities opening in Phase 2, the allowance of outdoor recreation with a maximum of five people is allowed, according to the plan.