On October 6, Gov. Jay Inslee announced several updates to Washington’s Safe Start reopening plan.
“We’re doing this now because we have had ongoing conversations with businesses about how to do these activities safely,” Inslee said at a press conference. “Instead of tightening restrictions, we can roll some more back to allow safer operation of these activities. Here in Washington, we know the threat of COVID is real and we take it seriously. It is safety, and public health, that come first before anything else in this unprecedented time.”
In July, after a spike in COVID-19 cases, Inslee paused the Safe Start reopening plan. With the October 6th announcement, all 39 counties will remain in their current phase, but the phases were updated to allow for more activity in some phases.
For example, changes were made that will affect libraries, movie theaters, adult and youth sports activities (both indoors and outdoors), restaurants, group events such as wedding receptions, and more. Read the memo and list of industries affected by the change here.
Bottom line for Okanogan County: We are still paused in Phase 2, but some of the guidelines around activities and group sizes have been rolled back.
Read the statement here: https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-announces-updates-safe-start-reopening-plan