Inslee removes COVID-related capacity limits

Inslee removes COVID-related capacity limits

Last Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee removed COVID-related capacity limits at publicly owned or operated, and non-profit cooling centers.

"Beginning today, and persisting well into next week, meteorologists predict that temperatures will rise rapidly throughout the Pacific Northwest. Consequently, Washingtonians will be at high to very high risk of heat-related effects. In response, many local governments are mobilizing "cooling centers" to protect people from the weather," Inslee said. "I want to ensure that local jurisdictions have flexibility in options that can provide relief from the heat."

The governor's emergency proclamations 20-05 and 20-25.13, "Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery," remain in effect and have capacity limitations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This order allows capacity limitations to be adjusted or removed in order to provide the ability to serve more people at publicly owned or operated, and non-profit cooling centers.

Eligible cooling centers are those created, administered or designated by a non-profit, state or local government entity; e.g., a state agency, city, county or other political subdivision, or an entity incorporated under the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act or analogous law from another jurisdiction, to temporarily address the health effects of a heatwave.

The suspension of capacity limitations does not apply to private, for-profit businesses that offer air-conditioned spaces to the general public.

All other aspects of the governor's COVID restrictions remain in effect until Wednesday, June 30th or whenever 70 percent of the population initiates vaccination, whichever comes first.

Inslee Rescinds 3

Proclamations

Gov. Jay Inslee last Monday (June 21) announced that three proclamations related to the COVID-19 pandemic would be rescinded. These changes are made in anticipation of the June 30 reopening date, and while we remain in a state of emergency - it is expected that additional proclamations will be rescinded in the coming days and weeks.

Proclamation 20-30, which suspends statutory job search requirements for applicants seeking unemployment insurance. This rescission is effective July 4.

Proclamation 20-46, which provides protections for high-risk workers, has been substantially replaced by Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 5115 and was made immediately effective. This new law, which was signed and made effective immediately, is known as the Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA), applies to workplaces only during a declared public health emergency involving an infectious or contagious disease. The law includes protections for high-risk employees from discrimination during public health emergencies. This rescission is effective June 28.

Proclamation 20-76, which limited the fees that third-party delivery services could charge restaurants for delivering food to customers. This rescission is effective immediately.

426 New Coronavirus Cases

Saturday, the state department of Health (DOH) reported 426 new coronavirus cases, which brings the state's totals to 450,404 cases and 5,902 deaths, meaning that 1.3 percent of people diagnosed in Washington have died, according to the DOH. The data is as of 11:59 p.m. Friday, though the state does not report new death data on weekends or update its data dashboard on Sundays.

In addition, 25,383 people have been hospitalized in the state due to the virus -- 28 new hospitalizations. In King County, the state's most populous, state health officials have confirmed a total of 112,339 COVID-19 diagnoses and 1,652 deaths.

Since vaccinations began in mid-December, the state and health care providers have administered 7,721,076 doses and 60 percent of Washingtonians have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to vaccination data, which the state updates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Providers are currently giving an average of about 21,888 vaccine shots per day.