SEATTLE — Several counties in Washington could move back a phase in the state’s reopening plan if COVID-19 metrics don’t improve by evaluation Monday, May 3.
Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to announce May 4 which counties will move phases.
As of Thursday, 16 counties, including six in western Washington, did not meet at least one metric to remain in Phase 3 of the “Healthy Washington” plan.
Under Inslee’s revised reopening plan, which was announced March 11, counties would be evaluated every three weeks on two metrics – case rate over two weeks and hospitalization rate over one week. Although counties originally had to meet both metrics to avoid moving backwards, Inslee announced April 9 counties could remain in Phase 3 by meeting just one metric.
Larger counties and small counties with fewer than 50,000 people would be evaluated on different target data.
May 3 is expected to be the second evaluation since the new reopening plan was announced.
See whether your county is meeting the targets required to remain in Phase 3 on the map below.
In western Washington, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Pacific, Skagit and Snohomish counties were failing both metrics as of April 25 and could be forced back to Phase 2. Of those counties, Lewis County is closest to remaining in Phase 3 with its case rate just shy of the threshold.
Pierce County, which moved back to Phase 2 after the first evaluation, does not meet requirements to return to Phase 3 but does not face a drop to Phase 1 yet.
Phase 3 allows for 50% occupancy in indoor spaces, including restaurants, gyms and movie theaters, small indoor group gatherings up to 10 people and spectators at sporting events.
Phase 2 restricts occupancy in indoor spaces at 25% and caps small indoor group gatherings at five people.