The Southwest Region, like every other region in the state, will start the “Healthy Washington” reopening plan in Phase 1, after it failed to reach the threshold in two of the four required metrics.
In the “Healthy Washington” reopening plan unveiled by Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday, the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions will be done be geographic regions, rather by county. The plan takes effect Monday.
Clark County is in the Southwest Region, along with Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Skamania and Klickitat counties.
The Southwest Region met the threshold for a 10 percent decrease in the 14-day rate of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. The region recorded a 27 percent decrease of cases from Nov. 29 to Dec. 12 versus Dec. 13 to Dec. 26.
The region also met the threshold of being below an average seven-day percentage of occupied intensive care unit beds of 90 percent. The region reported 73 percent occupied from Dec. 27 to Jan. 2.
However, the region did not meet the required 10 percent reduction in the 14-day rate of new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000. The region only saw a 2 percent reduction in the period from Dec. 6 to Dec. 19 versus Dec. 20 to Jan. 2.
The region also fell short of the seven-day percent positive of COVID-19 tests of below 10 percent. The region reported a 16 percent positive test rate from Dec. 13 to Dec. 19.
The Washington State Department of Health said regions will remain in Phase 1 until at least Jan. 18.
In the first phase, indoor dining is prohibited at restaurants, as is indoor social and at-home gatherings. Some outdoor entertainment is allowed but is limited to 10 ticketed guests. Appointment-based fitness training with one client per 500 square feet is allowed, as are activities such as outdoor tennis instruction, gymnastics, and no-contact martial arts, as long as it is limited to five athletes.
Bowling centers and indoor museums and aquariums can have limited attendance of private parties of no more than six people. Outdoor zoos, gardens and aquariums, as well as outdoor theaters or concert venues are limited to groups of 10.
Of the eight regions statewide, three regions met three of four metrics — North, Northwest and Puget Sound. North Central, East and Southwest met two metrics. The West Region only met one metric and the South Central Region didn’t meet any.
To move to Phase 2, a region must meet all four metrics.
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