Clark County submitted its request to move to the next phase of Washington’s COVID-19 recovery plan on Friday, as soon as possible.
The county remains in Phase 2. Entering Phase 3 would allow more businesses in the county to reopen and lessen physical distance restrictions.
Phase 3 is the penultimate phase in Washington’s recovery plan.
The state Department of Health will review the request and approve or deny it within a couple of days, according to Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County Public Health Officer.
Once approved, Clark County will immediately operate under the guidelines of Phase 3.
The Clark County Health Board approved the request at its Wednesday meeting. Melnick has said he is comfortable with the county moving to Phase 3.
“I am optimistic, given the metric we are seeing … that we can be approved early next week,” Melnick said Wednesday.
Phase 3 would allow outdoor group sports activities with 50 people or less. Gyms and swimming pools can also open to less than 50 percent of their capacity. Public gatherings of up to 50 people are permitted, including spiritual or religious services.
Libraries and museums can reopen in Phase 3. Movie theaters can reopen to less than 50 percent of their capacity, and people can resume nonessential travel. Restaurants and taverns can increase from 50 to 75 percent capacity, and bar areas in restaurants and taverns can have 25 percent capacity.
Clark County’s request comes at a time when coronavirus cases are increasing rapidly in Washington, Oregon, and many other states. Clark County has seen a minimal increase in cases since entering Phase 2, which Melnick has said is somewhat concerning.
However, Clark County remains in place with most of the Phase 3 metrics that the state wants counties to be online. The county has recently tested with a positive rate of less than 2 percent and has exceeded the target for the number of weekly tests.
Hospital capacity is maintained in good shape.
The rate of newly diagnosed Clark County cases per 100,000 residents in the past two weeks dropped from 17 to 13.9 on Friday, most likely because a 32-case day in early June fell through the 14-day window.
That’s well below the state’s target of fewer than 25 newly diagnosed cases per 100,000 residents for two weeks as part of Phase 3 applications.
On Friday, Clark County Public Health confirmed 17 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths.
The county has 758 confirmed cases and 29 deaths. At least 12,089 people have been tested for coronavirus in Clark County.
There are nine people hospitalized for the virus in Clark County.
Facial covers are now required in Washington in all indoor public places as well as in outdoor public places where physical distance guidelines cannot be met.
According to the agency press release, CRESA Emergency Management is distributing more than 216,000 fabric coverings to low-income individuals and families.
Any agency or group working with homeless people in Clark County who need to cover their faces can contact [email protected] to apply.
