OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee is extending his “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order until May 31, he announced during a news conference Friday.
Data show that social distancing is working in the state’s fight against the novel coronavirus, but it’s too early to ease restrictions, Inslee said. In recent weeks, some construction has resumed and outdoor recreation sites have been reopened, but Inslee and local leaders are pleading with residents to continue practicing social distancing to prevent the disease from re-surging.
“We have not won the fight with this virus,” Inslee said. “I would like to tell you that we could all make reservations for June 1, but I cannot. We will have to monitor, assess and adapt.”
The governor also unveiled a four-phased plan to reopen the state. There will be at least three weeks between phases, Inslee said.
• In coming weeks, retail stores will be allowed to offer curbside pickup. Additionally, restrictions will loosen for landscaping, auto sales, home cleaning and pet-walking businesses. Phase one also includes drive-in worship services.
• The next stage would allow camping, gatherings with no more than five people outside a household per week, new construction and limited non-essential travel, as well as open retail stores, hair and nail salons and restaurants at 50 percent dine-in capacity.
• The third phase would allow recreational sports with five to 50 people, gatherings of fewer than 50 people, all non-essential travel and open facilities like public pools, libraries and museums. Restaurants could operate at 75 percent dine-in capacity, bars at 25 percent and indoor gyms and movie theaters at 50 percent.
• The final stage would allow gatherings of more than 50 people and open nightclubs, concert venues and large sporting events. That could occur by mid-July, Inslee said. But a spike in cases, hospitalizations or deaths could cause the governor to renew restrictions.
“The success would be to only have to go through this once,” he said.
Smaller, rural counties that might not be as affected by the virus as others can apply to the state Department of Health to skip ahead to the next phase.
Inslee, along with health experts, said reopening the state will require widespread testing and contact tracing — determining who has come in contact with infected people so they can self-quarantine.
The federal government has promised enough test kits to quadruple the state’s supply, Inslee said.
The governor and the health district are strongly recommending residents wear cloth face masks when they’re out. There’s no plan to require masks, but it’s an option.
It could take a year to 18 months to develop a vaccine, health experts have reported. And a widely effective treatment hasn’t been found.
Joey Thompson: 425-339-3449; jthompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @byjoeythompson.
