Now that Skagit County is near the end of its second week in Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start Plan for reopening Washington’s counties and economies during the COVID-19 pandemic, what is the path to advance to Phase 3?

Most of the county’s retail, service and manufacturing sectors are open at limited capacity under state guidances.

The Skagit County commissioners can apply to the secretary of Health to move to Phase 3 on June 24. The three week period allows a complete disease incubation period and an additional week to compile complete data and confirm trends.

The application...