King County Approved To Enter Phase 2 Of Reopening Plan

SEATTLE, WA — Washington State on Friday morning approved King County's application to move into Phase 2 of Gov. Inslee's Safe Start reopening plan.

As the county enters the second phase, a number of prohibitions have been lifted, and more businesses will be allowed to reopen than were able to under the modified Phase 1.

In Phase 2, groups of up to five can enjoy outdoor recreation activities like camping, visiting beaches or playing some sports. Residents are reminded to gather with no more than five people outside their households per week. The softened restrictions of Phase 2 also allow houses of worship to open to 25 percent capacity or to 200 people, whichever number is smaller. Choirs are not allowed, but in-home faith based gatherings of up to five people are permitted. Businesses in several industries are now permitted to reopen permitting they can still abide by social distancing requirements. Those include:

• Manufacturing
• Construction
• Real estate
• Photography
• Pet grooming
• In-home/domestic services
• Retail
• Professional or office-based businesses
• Personal services

Each industry has been given unique safety guidelines they will need to follow to prevent further coronavirus transmissions. For example, Phase 2 permits restaurants and taverns to open to 50 percent capacity. Groups of diners must be limited to five, and bar top seating is still prohibited.

Until Friday Morning, King County was limited to a 'modified Phase 1' reopening program, which maintained severe restrictions on which businesses could open their doors to customers.

An application to move forward in the Safe Start plan requires the unanimous support of a state's health officials, local lawmakers and executive. On Monday, the King County Board of Health voted 10 - 0 to advance the application, and King County Executive Dow Constantine signed and delivered it to state Secretary of Health John Wiesman, who makes the ultimate call if a county can progress.

Applications to move forward are judged by a variety of key metrics. As of Wednesday, King County met all metrics to apply for Phase 2.

Now that King has entered Phase 2, it will be at least 3 weeks before it is eligible to enter Phase 3. Phase 3 allows for gatherings of up to 50 people and the return of contact sports, and lifts restrictions on businesses even further.

With King County moving ahead, the only counties in the state in a full Phase 1 are Yakima, Benton and Franklin counties. Chelan and Douglas are in a modified Phase 1.

Patch Staffer Payton Potter contributed to this report.