San Juan County remains in Phase 2
— from Governor Jay Inslee’s Office —
Today Governor Inslee announced that a minimum of a two week hold will be placed on all current applications to advance through the Governor’s four phase plan. This decision applies to San Juan County’s application to Phase 3 submitted to the State on June 25th, in addition to current
applications from a number of other counties.
Once posted, details on the Governor’s announcement are available at this link.
While this decision prolongs ongoing economic challenges for employers and employees of many local businesses, it is based on increasing case volumes across WA and the country, and the need to ensure that reopening is safe, thoughtful, and based on current data on disease transmission.
San Juan County Health Officer Dr. Frank James shares his thoughts on the Governor’s decision, “When we submitted our application to move to Phase 3 last week, we genuinely felt that San Juan County was prepared to respond effectively to cases in the islands. We also understand that this is a
fast moving situation and that the Governor prioritizing a safe reopening for the entire state is a logical choice at this time. Like so much in this crisis, these decisions are difficult and finding the right path is an enormous challenge.”
As Dr. James explains, “We can’t underestimate this disease. It has the ability to overwhelm our healthcare infrastructure in weeks, as we’re currently seeing in other states. Our very best tool to avoid that outcome is covering our faces in public — we know for a fact that this works and is a proven way to drastically reduce disease spread. In addition, we need to be thoughtful about our plans to travel, socialize, and in particular interact indoors with those from outside our households. And of course hand washing and staying home when sick matter as well. We all have a role to play.”
San Juan County Council Chair Rick Hughes highlights the difficulty of the situation, “I am sympathetic to those in our community whose livelihoods are threatened by the economic impacts of COVID. At the same time, we always want to put the health and safety of the islands first and foremost. Clearly safely moving to Phase 3 would have been a positive step forward, but I also understand and support the logic of the Governor’s decision.”
In addition to the Governor’s decision about Phase status, he also strengthened requirements around face covering which in many ways mirror requirements that had already been in place in San Juan
County.
All existing Phase 2 restrictions and limits placed on businesses and individuals by both WA State and San Juan County will remain in place at this time.
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Thankfully, we have a governor who has the sense not to rush into making things even worse than they already are.
Wonderful!!!
Just what I was advocating in my guest column.
I am so very pleased to have such an intelligent and thoughtful governor. !!!!HURRAH!!!!
Consider: our State reported 716 new cases today, the highest to date, and the 14-day running average is also the highest its been since the pandemic began; Oregon is breaking records for the number of new cases; numerous (19?) counties in California have been forced to take a step back; and 40 of 50 states are seeing increasing rates of infection. And yet, the number of tourists in the islands keeps climbing and climbing, and from all over the country. Doesn’t the County have some sort of leverage which it could use to reduce the health risks to the citizens of this county? That’s a rhetorical question, of course they do! If they don’t employ it, that represents an unwillingness to do so, not inability.
I applaud Governor Inslee for doing a reasonably good job of containing the coronavirus in Washington State, despite little federal help and frequent verbal attacks from the Orange One.
It could have been a lot worse when the first Covid-19 cases became apparent early this year. As I wrote in a Seattle Times op ed on March 6, Seattle could easily have become “the Milan of the United States” in this outbreak:
https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/in-the-age-of-coronavirus-our-nation-needs-a-responsible-leader-who-trusts-scientists/
It did not, thanks in part to the governor’s wise “Stay Home, Stay Safe” program and the gradual opening up of Washington society that has ensued. Instead, New York City earned that regrettable honor.
As I wrote in a recent Orcas Issues Guest Column, “It’s time to hit the Pause button.”
Thank you, Governor Inslee, for doing so on our behalf.
Great decision by the governor. Still, it took our state leadership to make the right call, where our local government failed us. The right decision by our Governor doesn’t put the county council off the hook. They need to show the willingness, wisdom, and courage to do what they should have done in the first place. Rescind our application to move into phase 3. We are in this for the long-haul until there’s a vaccine and the council needs to play the long game and take this year as a loss. This is a complex problem that requires creative solutions. Aspirations need to match the reality of the situation, and “Moving Forward” may only come by pulling back.
Interesting. LA and Santa Barbara close their beaches for the 4th. Worried about people gathering. Worried about front line workers. On Orcas? Why did SJC elected officials request Phase 3 status telling all to prepare for approval on the following day? How many made the move unknowingly.Oops! Thank goodness Gov. Inslee is a leader.
Yea send money .bills keep coming collection companys are not in quarantine