Early Reopening Approved In 5 Washington Counties

OLYMPIA, WA — Secretary of Health John Wiesman has approved applications in five Washington counties, allowing each to quickly move to the second phase of Gov. Jay Inslee's Safe Start plan.

The counties approved Friday include Columbia, Garfield, Lincoln, Ferry and Pend Oreille. Most of the state is expected to reach phase 2 around June 1.

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Related: Reopening Washington: 6 Things To Know

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To qualify for expedited reopening, counties must have a population below 75,000 and no new coronavirus cases in the last three weeks. According to the Department of Health, Kittitas, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties have also applied for phase 2. All three are awaiting approval. State officials said Stevens County applied, but is not yet eligible.

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Moving to the second phase will bring some noticeable changes:

• Restaurants and taverns can reopen with less than 50% capacity, and no more than five guests seated at a single table. Bar area seating must remain closed.
• Hair and nail salons can reopen.
• In-store retail can return with certain restrictions.
• All real estate can resume.
• Professional services and office-based businesses can resume (teleworking remains preferred).
• Pet-grooming, nannies and housecleaning services can resume.
• Limited non-essential travel is allowed.

According to the Department of Health, all businesses in the five counties must wait to reopen until specific guidance is released for their industries, and they must be able to comply with all new health and safety requirements.

State officials are still developing a timeline for when counties that move to phase 2 early will be able to move ahead to phase 3.