Finally! Friday morning the Washington Department of Health gave approval to 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.

It was a long seven days, from the May 29 late afternoon County submittal and then the June 1 re-submittal, updating the application.

Last Thursday Skagit County Commissioners were talking insurrection

At a specially called meeting that afternoon, commissioners were all but saber rattling, frustrated over the slow response to the County’s Monday application for moving to Phase 2.

“Either we will be in Phase 2, or I’m ready to take action with my fellow commissioners,” Commissioner Ken Dahlstedt said. Commissioner Lisa Janicki, while understanding the County could not act outside the state’s authority, was equally frustrated, saying, “It seems so patently unfair. It’s time to draw a line in the sand.”

Half of the county’s eight mayors attended in support.

Friday the Board of County Commissioners held another specially scheduled meeting, though approval from the Washington Department of Health came about 10 a.m. that day. Public Health Director Jennifer Johnson received the approval letter from the state health department that officially gave Skagit County permission to move to Phase 2.

“We are excited to move forward. It is long overdue,” Johnson said in a statement, which stressed that “Phase 2 is not a total lifting of Stay Home, Stay Healthy restrictions.”

The County’s guidances issued by Health Officer Dr. Howard Leibrand are still in effect. The County is still promoting avoiding large groups, maintaining social distancing and wearing masks. Groups are limited to five people per week if not household members. Larger gatherings are considered unsafe and prohibited. People at higher risk are encouraged to stay at home as possible.

Phase 2 opening allows, following guidelines, barbershops, hair salons, restaurant, retail and other businesses to operate at defined capacities, including having business health plans Skagit Public Health stresses that businesses are to comply with their guidances, which are based on the state’s Stay Safe COVID-19 order.

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 chief benchmark is now 25 new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents over a 14 day period for counties with populations over 75,000. Skagit County reported 22 cases in the 14 day period May 24-June 5.

Sixteen of those cases were recorded in the seven days of May 30-June 5.

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

For more information and complete guidance on requirements for businesses to reopen, please visit www.governor.wa.gov or http://www.skagitcounty.net/coronavirus.