A surge in COVID-19 infections has halted Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s four-phased reopening plan in its tracks for at least two weeks.
For San Juan County, that means an application to advance to Phase 3 is currently a nonstarter as the state focuses on a safe reopening, according to a press release from the county. While it is understood a certain amount of frustration is mounting for those economically impacted by the coronavirus, the state is focused on health and safety for a robust recovery.
“When we submitted our application to move to Phase 3 last week, we genuinely felt that San Juan County was prepared to respond effectively to cases in the islands, San Juan County Health Officer Dr. Frank James said in the press release. "We also understand that this is a fast-moving situation and that the Governor prioritizing a safe reopening for the entire state is a logical choice at this time. Like so much in this crisis, these decisions are difficult and finding the right path is an enormous challenge.”
As Washington sees a surge in COVID-19 cases, the reopening plan has been halted in place.
| Pixabay
The county will continue within the restrictions of Phas e2 until the governor decides to move forward with recovery.
On July 15, the state reported 742 new cases and 17 deaths for a total of 43,046 cases and 1,421 deaths the News Tribune reported.
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