PORT ANGELES, Wash. (AP) - Some lawmakers are pushing Gov. Jay Inslee to add counties to the list of places that can apply to ease coronavirus restrictions earlier than other areas of Washington.
The Peninsula Daily News reports the three state legislators representing District 24 want to see Clallam County added to the list of those that can apply for an earlier roll-out of Phase 2 activities.
The three Democrats sent a letter Tuesday to Inslee asking that Clallam County be added to a list of 10 counties that could ease restrictions soon.
“Like our neighbors Jefferson and Grays Harbor, Clallam County has a small population and has only had a small number of confirmed cases (18 to date),” says the letter signed by Reps. Mike Chapman and Steve Tharinger, and Sen. Kevin Van De Wege. “The latest unemployment numbers, meanwhile, indicate Clallam County has the second highest unemployment rate in the state.”
Inslee last week extended through at least May 31 the COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions and said there will be a four-stage phase in for lifting of the orders. There will be a minimum of three weeks between each phase.
However the governor said counthat had not had a new case of COVID-19 in the past three weeks could apply to the state Department of Health with a plan to move to Phase 2 on a faster timeline than the rest of the state.
Population was brought up as an issue in the decision of those counties eligible for waiver early on, but initial reports of a 50,000 population cap were not correct, as the number changed to 75,000 later on Friday, according to the governor’s office, which added that Clallam is not the only county to have requested a variance.
Colleen McAleer, executive director of the Clallam County Economic Development Corp., said Tuesday the county’s businesses are struggling.
It’s not just smaller areas pushing for a faster approach. The Spokesman-Review reports Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward is also hoping for an earlier opening for businesses if there are no spikes in cases during the early stages. Woodward said local elected officials will be petitioning the governor for Spokane County to move to Phase 2 sooner.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.