State officials give more information on slow reopening process

OLYMPIA — State officials on Monday provided some more details about Gov. Jay Inslee’s four-phase plan to reopen the state following the governor’s orders in late March to shut down “non-essential” businesses and ban large gatherings.

John Wiesman, secretary of the state’s Department of Health, said that Phase 2 of the restart process could begin as early as June 1. It will continue Inslee’s stay-at-home order but allow for small gatherings of five or fewer people and allow operation of barbershops, hair salons, pet groomers, real estate transactions, and restaurants at half capacity.

“We will look at the data to see if we’re on track,” Wiesman told reporters on Monday. “If the numbers go down, we will consider earlier, but we’re not anticipating that to be the case.”

After that, Wiesman said the state will watch and wait for at least three weeks to see if COVID-19 cases are falling or rising and if the state continues to make progress, then the next phase will begin.

Wiesman explained that the minimum three-week-long phases are based on the presumed 14-day COVID-19 incubation period, giving state health officials an extra week to gather data and see what kind of progress the state is making in controlling the spread of the pandemic.

David Postman, Inslee’s chief of staff, said that while the process envisions a slow loosening of restrictions, the governor won’t hesitate to reimpose restrictions if COVID-19 cases start rising again.

“Built into this is the assumption we can ramp down if we need to,” he said.

According to Postman and Nick Streuli, the acting external relations director, the state is working closely with industry groups and associations to craft rules that will allow each industry and business sector to open in the state while maintaining safe social distancing and hygiene.

Among those that will be allowed to restart once those rules are finalized are automobile sales and landscaping services.

“Auto sales are in the final stages of review, and we should have them ready in the next several days,” Streuli said.

Postman also said that businesses opening earlier than allowed — such as The Stag barbershop in Snohomish, which opened for business on Sunday — risked losing their business licenses or prosecution.

“It’s against the law, and it’s not taking care of your neighbor,” Postman said.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at [email protected].