UPDATE | Phase 2 reaction: Jefferson County sees ‘light at the end of the tunnel’

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We have worked hard to be one of the safest counties in the state throughout COVID. The trick will be staying that way as we slowly move toward re-opening.
– Kate Dean, Chair of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners

Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement that Jefferson County can move into Phase 2 of the Roadmap to Recovery COVID-19 reopening plan inspired happy relief Thursday across the county.

The governor announced in a press conference the Northwest region — comprised of Jefferson, Clallam, Kitsap, and Mason counties — would move to Phase 2 along with the East, North, North Central, and Southwest regions on Monday.

“We just opened up 92 percent of the state of Washington,” Inslee said.

Moving into Phase 2 allows restaurants and bars to reopen for indoor service to 25 percent capacity, and also loosens restrictions for social gatherings and sporting events.

“I’m glad that the governor and Department of Health feel that it is safe enough for Jefferson County to go to Phase 2,” Jefferson County Commissioner Kate Dean said Thursday.

“We have worked hard to be one of the safest counties in the state throughout COVID. The trick will be staying that way as we slowly move toward re-opening,” she said.

Jefferson County has had 323 COVID-19 cases through Wednesday since the pandemic started. Two people in the county have died from the disease, and 23 residents have been hospitalized.

“I’m especially glad that kids can return to sports and activities. My family will still stick to outdoor eating and socializing for now, but with most of our grandparents getting vaccinated, there is light at the end of the tunnel, at last!” Dean added.

State Rep. Mike Chapman said it’s been a long wait for local residents to move to Phase 2.

“I am happy to hear the 24th Legislative District constituents can begin their road to recovery on their local economy in their communities,” the 24th District lawmaker said.

“I commend Gov. Inslee with his decision to move the remaining areas of Western Washington into Phase 2. Families and friends in the 24th have waited far too long for this announcement, and I hope they are feeling relief and joy that they can have some normalcy back in their lives starting next week,” Chapman said. 

Chapman, along with Sen. Kevin Van De Wege and Rep. Steve Tharinger, the 24th District’s two other elected leaders in Olympia, had earlier criticized Inslee’s Roadmap to Recovery had led to “senseless punishment of counties with low COVID-19 rates.”

The plan was changed earlier this year to clump counties together into eight regions for advancement into phases with fewer COVID restrictions.

The three lawmakers said the change in reopening metrics for businesses had “left Clallam and Jefferson counties at a standstill for no good reason.”

Chapman said Thursday he would continue to press for more flexibility in the reopening plan as the community response to the coronavirus improves.

“As more people in our communities get vaccinated, vacancy in local ERs becomes more consistent, my colleagues and I will continue to push for fewer restrictions,” Chapman said.

“Continue to mask up and stay optimistic. We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he added.

Van De Wege said the announcement was welcome news and praised the sacrifices made by residents to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“This is welcome news and the kind of relief my seat-mates and I have been urging for our communities for some time now,” Van De Wege said.

“Jefferson and other counties in our district have been doing a solid job of making the sacrifices to contain the virus and deserve the chance to show we can reopen safely and responsibly,” he added. “I wish this decision had come sooner, but I’m glad it came today rather than tomorrow or next week or next month.”

“It’s the news our businesses needed,” Van De Wege said.

Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro asked people to continue to stay safe as the COVID-19 crisis continues.

"This feels good, but I'll say that with a caveat because, clearly, we can go backwards,” Mauro said. "Unless we're prepared to do the work, we'll squander this opportunity to bring back the welcomed business and restaurant scene."

Mauro added that the new phase would allow Port Townsend to begin re-opening certain city facilities, but again stressed the fact that these services can only remain as long as residents remain vigilant.

"You can blow it," Mauro said. "Dear community, let's keep on pulling together and have the benefits of a phased reopening without the threat of more COVID transmission."

With that said, Mauro noted that Port Townsend has done a fantastic job of adhering to safety protocols throughout the pandemic.

"We've done really well; people kind of know the drill," the city manager said. "I've got a lot of confidence in this community."

Jefferson Healthcare Commissioner Dr. Kees Kolff was careful to note that despite the fact that Inslee gave the OK to move to Phase 2, the decisions of local officials remain paramount.

"Although the governor might open up things to Phase 2, it is our public health officer, the Board of Health and ultimately the county commissioners who make the final decision as to what parts of Phase 2 we think are most important to implement here in order to meet our own local priorities and our own safety concerns,” Kolff said.

Kolff added that he didn't think the phase shift would have a huge impact on his own personal habits, at least in the near term.

"I'm in a pretty tight bubble with my grandchildren and so anything I do has got to be approved by my whole bubble," he said. "I've gotten used to the level of restrictions with which we are living and I personally would like to see us get the numbers get even lower."

Shelly Leavens, executive director of the Jefferson County Historical Society, said its facilities would remain closed. The nonprofit operates the Jefferson Museum of Art & History, interpretive sites, a research center and historic houses.

“We decided we’re going to hold off until April. We’re still on that same trajectory,” Leavens said.

“We have a new exhibition coming in … that’s going to be installed over the coming months. We’re still working toward that April reopening and then we’ll see at that point how our capacity needs to be limited in terms of museum visitation.”

The organization will stay online for now.
“We’re also just going to continue virtual programming for the meantime until likely early summer when we may restart doing some outdoor walking tours with very small groups,” Leavens said.

“We still want to be super cautious especially when working with our volunteers,” she added.

“For us at JCHS, we’re still going to take it slow, but we’re just so thankful to live in a community that’s been so careful around the pandemic,” Leavens said. “We all feel really cared for here.”

 

“I’m excited that Jefferson County and our Northwest Region is moving forward into Phase 2,” added County Commissioner Greg Brotherton. 

“While it opens up risk, I have been proud of our county’s resolve in following the community mitigations that protect us, and we need to continue to mask up and follow the best practices we all know by now,” he said. “Let’s keep our restaurants and other small businesses open, and not back slide. 

“There is light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s move forward safely,” Brotherton added.