OLYMPIA, Wash. — Five Washington counties are approved to move to the next phase of reopening early.
Whatcom County is not on the list.
State Secretary of Health John Wiesman approved applications from Columbia, Garfield, Lincoln, Ferry and Pend Orielle counties to move into phase 2 of Governor Inslee’s Safe Start plan because he says they have demonstrated strong planning and capability to protect public health.
To apply for a variance, counties must have a population of less than 75,000 and no new cases of COVID-19 in the last three weeks.