Skagit County waiting for Phase 2 reopening approval

Ken Stern | Jun 03, 20200

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THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE – Tuesday was gray and sprinkly, but La Conner’s and the country’s future is bright if young people bring their voice to the town square. Outrage at the the killing of George Floyd, an African American, by a white police officer in Minneapolis May 25 brought the local activists out. Their chants included “Black Lives Matter” and Floyd’s gasp “I can’t breathe.” Page 5 photo of Sunday Mount Vernon march. Page 7 story of Anacortes march and car attack. – Photo by Nancy Crowell

La Conner businesses have started to reopen this week, before the Washington Department of Health has approved Skagit County’s application to move into Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Stay Safe COVID-19 order for phased re-opening of Washington’s economy.

Monday afternoon the Washington Department of Health received the application from the Skagit County Board of Health. This updated the 60 page application the Skagit County Commissioners, acting both in their own capacity and as the Board of Health, submitted Friday.

The County’s Monday submittal was in response to the state’s modifying guidelines Sunday based on a county-by-county approach.

Department of Health Secretary John Weissman will make a decision within one to three business days, Jessica Baggett, a department public information officer, said Tuesday morning.

She said there would be a decision this week and that the timeframe would depend on follow-ups and getting responses back from the Skagit County Public Health Department.

Moving into Phase 2 reopening will take effect the day an approval letter is sent to Public Health Director Jennifer Johnson, said Baggett. The letter will include approval criteria the County must follow. Since Skagit County has followed Phase 1 guidance and has required criteria in place, the application will go into effect immediately, she said.

Friday afternoon County Commissioner Ron Wesen expressed his hope for a quick approval. He was not surprised that the state had turned down the May 22 application for a variance, saying the County knew that it did not meet all the criteria. The chief benchmark then, of 10 new cases per 100,000 residents over a 14 day period for counties with populations over 75,000 to apply has been recalibrated to 25 new cases per 100,000 residents.

The County recorded 14 new cases from May 14-28. In the two week period ending May 31, there were 10 positive cases reported, with eight of the cases tested the week starting May 24. The epidemiological curve is flattened, with the doubling time in the county now 46 days, from 218 cases on April 16 to 435 cases May 31.

Wesen pointed to the County’s preparations and ability to provide tests, do conduct contact tracing, quarantine or isolate people and the readiness of the healthcare system. He said that arrangements have been made to lease a Motel 6 in Burlington and use Camp Korey to isolate people testing positive.

Wesen also stressed the need to be personally responsible, with social distancing, mask wearing and keeping groups down to five people once Phase 2 is approved, saying “We have to make sure individuals do the respectful thing.”

He also shared the concern for both the economic hardship of individuals and businesses and the increased reports of alcohol use and depression, both locally and internationally, from the long isolation.

Phase 2 opening allows, following guidelines, barbershops, hair salons, restaurant, retail and other businesses to operate at defined capacities under state guidelines, including having business health plans.

The Secretary of Health may approve a county moving in whole to the next phase, or may only approve certain activities in the next phase. A three week minimum is required between plan phases.

The governor’s Safe Start order will expire at midnight July 1.

50 march for black lives in La Conner

Bill Reynolds

La Conner residents lent their voices Tuesday to the nationwide call for societal change in the wake of African American George Floyd’s death in police custody in Minneapolis last week.

Audrey Liddell organized a peaceful protest and march here despite getting some pushback on social media from those aware that protests elsewhere have devolved into violence.

Liddell told the Weekly News as marchers wearing masks and carrying placards gathered near the roundabout before 2 p.m. that precautions had been taken to assure a safe and peaceful event.

Skagit County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Ben Hagglund and La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes met with marchers beforehand.

“We’re here to help,” said Hagglund, who engaged in friendly conversation and posed for photos.

Hayes struck a similar tone.

“We support your right to protest peacefully,” Hayes said. “We support that 100 per cent.”

Liddell said a phone call with her mom sparked the idea for a local protest.

“I was talking with my mom on the phone,” she said, “talking about how to be part of the movement.

“La Conner is a small community,” she added, “and sometimes it’s hard for our voices to be heard.”

Liddell wasn’t comfortable going to Seattle to protest, and knew others here had similar feelings.

The local marchers made themselves heard as they made their way west up Morris Street.

Moments before they had received a pep talk from Vernon Washington, Sr., of La Conner, who grew up in Mississippi and witnessed first-hand the fight for civil rights in the Deep South.

“Let’s make this peaceful,” he implored, “and get our point across.”

The 50 or so marchers did, chanting all the way, first to Gilkey Square and then down First Street to Maple Hall. Liddell and Washington each briefly addressed the group.

Then it was back up First Street on their way to the east edge of town at the roundabout repeating their chants, including “What’s his name?” / “George Floyd!” “What did he say? / “I can’t breathe!’ and “Black Lives Matter,” proving to La Conner that they do.