Phase 3 Healthy Washington, Opening Card

Seattle – More than a dozen counties in Washington could return to the state reopening plan if COVID-19 scores do not improve by Monday’s assessment.

As of Wednesday, 18 counties, including five in western Washington, did not meet at least one indicator to remain in Phase 3 of the Healthy Washington Plan.

According to Revised Governor Jay Insley̵

7;s reopening plan, announced on March 11, counties will be evaluated every three weeks on two indicators – a two-week incidence rate and a one-week hospitalization rate – and must meet both to remain in their current phase. Larger counties and smaller counties with less than 50,000 people will be evaluated on different target data. April 12 is expected to be the first assessment after all counties move to phase 3.

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See if your county meets the goals needed to stay in Phase 3 on the map below.

In western Washington, Pierce County misses the mark on both indicators, according to the State Department of Health in Washington on April 7. Hospitalization in Jefferson and Lewis counties barely exceeds the limit to remain in phase 3, although Jefferson County has the fourth lowest case rate in the state. The Pacific and Cowlitz counties were above the thresholds for hospitalizations and new cases, respectively.

Although currently meeting indicators to stay in phase 3, Skagit County has filed an alarm to increase cases and hospitalizations, worried it could be pushed to the brink by April 12.

Phase 3 allows 50% indoor occupancy, including restaurants, gyms and movie theaters, small group gatherings of up to 10 people and spectators at sporting events.