Local business, government leaders welcome news of move to Phase 2

MOSES LAKE — Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement Thursday Grant and Adams counties would move to Phase 2 of his Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan was good news to local business and government leaders.

“That is excellent news,” Grant County Commissioner Cindy Carter said Thursday. “This will be good.”

Inslee announced the north central region, which includes Grant, Adams, Okanogan, Douglas and Chelan counties, would partly reopen Monday.

Restaurants in Phase 2 will be allowed to open Sunday for Valentine’s Day.

“I’m tickled that we’re back into Phase 2. It’s going to help our businesses a little bit,” said Adams County Commissioner Terry Thompson.

That sentiment was echoed by Grant County Commissioner Danny Stone.

“I’m excited. That will help some of businesses move forward,” Stone said.

Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Doran-Martinez said it’s welcome news.

“We needed that. We needed that so much,” Doran-Martinez said. “I am very happy. Very happy.”

“I didn’t think we were ever going to get out of Phase 1,” Carter said.

“I was a little surprised, but very pleased,” Adams County Commissioner Dan Blankenship said. “I hope it lasts, and I hope it comes in time to help some of the small businesses that have been waiting ever so patiently to get back in business.”

“It’s really been a struggle,” Carter said.

She said she traveled outside Washington, and in her experience, Washington is among the most restrictive states.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Stone said.

“This is great news for our community,” said Samaritan Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Theresa Sullivan. “We’re thankful for all the steps everyone took to make this possible. It will be important to continue to be diligent so we can continue to move forward. Also, on behalf of the entire Samaritan family, we look forward to supporting many local businesses as they open back up for business.”

Moses Lake City Manager Allison Williams said the move to Phase 2 is a tribute to the hard work by Grant County residents and communities to reduce the spread of the disease.

“It’s been a concerted effort,” Williams said.

She gave credit to the Grant County Health District, “which is working diligently,” she said.

“I think it’s going to help us quite a bit, really, with our small businesses,” Thompson said.

The second phase allows restaurants and fitness centers to reopen at 25% capacity. More people will be allowed to attend weddings and funerals, and sports events can resume with limited spectators.

Doran-Martinez said the next step is to find out what Phase 3 looks like, and work to meet those requirements. Those requirements have to be announced to keep the state moving forward, she said. Inslee said Thursday no date was set for announcing Phase 3 guidelines.

Williams said the plan Inslee announced Jan. 5 was different in many of its details from the plan that governed the state through most of 2020.

“We look forward to reading the details, and getting our businesses open again,” Williams said. “We’ve really got to dive into the details and see what’s there.”

Carter said progress is good after spending considerable time in lockdown.

“It’s a step. Moving forward. Finally moving forward again,” she said.

Anthony Anton, president of the Washington Hospitality Association, said it was welcome news for that industry.

“The governor’s announcement today to move most of the state to Phase 2 is great news for public health and for our industry,” Anton said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

“In the areas of the state that have been reopened, we’ve seen cases continue to drop as gatherings have moved to regulated, safe establishments. Yet we know we have more work to do: We must allow safe gathering spaces in every area of the state. We are committed to working with the governor on reopening, determining stable metrics, and mapping a path to 50 percent indoor capacity to stop the spread of COVID,” he added.

Only the south central region remains in Phase 1, including Kittitas, Yakima, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla and Columbia counties.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.