Month: January 2021

On January 5th Governor Inslee announced Healthy Washington reopening plan

January 7, 2021 - WWI News

The Governor’s Healthy Washington reopening plan divides the state into eight regions and will go into effect January 11. All regions will begin in Phase 1, during which indoor service is still prohibited as outlined below.

Healthy Washington: Phase 1 and 2

Under these new phases, the following restrictions are in place for eating and drinking establishments:

Phase 1

  1. Indoor service prohibited.
  2. Outdoor service: 11pm close, maximum 6 per table, limit 2 households per table.

Phase 2

  1. Indoor service: 25% capacity, 11pm close.
  2. Food menu requirements for indoor seated lifted for wineries that allow minors on-premise (bars now defined as 21+ establishments with no food)
  3. Outdoor service: maximum 6 per table, limit 2 households per table.

See this chart for all of the restrictions in Phases 1 and 2.

We were successful in getting the Governor’s office to change how a “bar” is defined under this new reopening plan. Moving forward, wineries will belong to the “eating and drinking establishments” group that includes all food and drink industries except those that serve 21+ only and do not serve food.

Healthy Washington: Regions

The regions are mostly based on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) regions used for evaluating healthcare services. There will be eight regions of four or more counties, divided according to available health care services based on metrics such as hospitalizations, case data and disease mobility.

 

Each region will begin in Phase 1 and must meet the following metrics before moving to Phase 2:

  1. Decreasing trend in two-week rate of COVID-19 cases per 100K population (decrease >10%)
  2. Decreasing trend in two-week rate new COVID-19 hospital admission rates per 100K population (decrease >10%)
  3. ICU occupancy (total — COVID-19 and non-COVID-19) of less than 90%
  4. COVID-19 test positivity rate of <10%

To remain in Phase 2, regions must meet at least 3 metrics:

  1. Decreasing or flat trend in two-week rate of COVID-19 cases per 100K population
  2. Decreasing or flat trend in two-week rate new COVID-19 hospital admission rates per 100K population
  3. ICU occupancy (total — COVID-19 and non-COVID-19) of less than 90%
  4. COVID-19 test positivity rate of <10%.

The metrics for each region will be updated every Friday. DOH will move eligible regions into a new phase the following Monday.