Grant County approved for variance, allowed to reopen some

MOSES LAKE — Grant County was moved into Phase 2 of the state’s “safe start” plan on Saturday by the Washington Department of Health.

Business closures and movement restrictions were put in place in March to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Grant County Commissioner Cindy Carter explained that Phase 2 means county officials have plans for the county to handle a renewed outbreak of the virus, should one occur. Guidelines and requirements for businesses to reopen are laid out on the governor’s website, www.governor.wa.gov.

Phase 2 allows some retail businesses that had been designated as non-essential by state officials to reopen, and allows restaurants to resume some inside seating at reduced capacity. Some service businesses, such as hairdressers and barbers, also can reopen.

State officials announced on Thursday that Grant County was eligible to apply for a waiver to move to Phase 2, and county officials submitted the application Friday.

“We’ve been working hard on this. It’s a baby step, but it’s a step,” Carter said. “I am so excited.”

Grant County Health District administrator Theresa Adkinson said Friday that in Phase 2 health district officials must be able to show they can react within 24 hours when a new coronavirus case is reported.

Counties must also show they have adequate hospital capacity to accommodate an increase in cases, and they must have adequate supplies of protective equipment for health care workers.

Grant County Health Officer Alexander Brzezny said Friday that he will issue an order requiring people to wear masks in public places or in situations where people can’t maintain a six-foot distance. Adkinson said enforcement will be the health district’s responsibility. A business that doesn’t comply with state and local requirements could face sanctions on its business license, Adkinson said.

Brzezny said no one is going to be arrested over it, but people need to know the importance of wearing masks when indoors. Masks will become more important as businesses start to reopen and people start moving around, Adkinson said.

Grant County’s threshold to remain in Phase 2 is a maximum of 10 new cases in any 14-day period. If the county exceeds that threshold, Phase 1 restrictions could be reimposed, Adkinson said, which would mean closing businesses that had reopened.