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Last week, a statewide mandate went out to Washingtonians to wear face coverings when out in public. The order was issued by State Health Secretary John Wiesman and took effect on Friday, June 26.

"At the beginning [of the pandemic], people who had the disease [COVID-19] infected close to three people for every person that was infected," Said Governor Jay Inslee during a press call on Tuesday, June 23. "That was when the number of people who were infected exploded exponentially. We [Washington] drove that number down dramatically. We did that because Washingtonians were committed and disciplined and caring for one another when we did our social distancing."

As new coronavirus cases continue to rise throughout the state, Inslee has put a pause on counties moving to Phase 4, which would mean no restrictions.

Eight counties were eligible to move from Phase 3 to Phase 4 before the pause. State health officials confirmed 549 new COVID-19 cases in Washington on Saturday, including six additional deaths. The update brings the state's totals to 31,404 cases and 1,310 deaths.

To the Editor,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of Lewis County for taking time out of their busy schedules to support the Uncle Sam sign and freedom of speech this past week.

Starting Monday, July 6, Lewis County Seniors emergency meal service will be entering a new phase. Seniors or their personal representative will be collecting their weekly meals by a drive through pick up line at their assigned distribution point. Your meals will be placed in your backseat or trunk to limit exposure and all employees will be wearing masks. Meals must be picked up according to your assigned delivery day.

Sheriff Snaza made national headlines this week regarding Governor Inslee's new requirement that masks must be worn when social distancing isn't available.

Sheriff Snaza has always supported the residents of Lewis County who are free thinkers, as long as they stay within the law.

The City of Napavine received a show of support like never before over the Uncle Sam sign. The city had heard that the petition asking the owner to remove the sign was going to be delivered during the next open city council meeting, even though no one had called them directly.

SOUTH BEND - Sales of fireworks has increased dramatically across America since the coronavirus pandemic surfaced. In 2019, fireworks sales were approximately $1.3 billion, which surpassed 2018's total of $945 million. There will be no city display of fireworks in Long Beach; however, last year's fireworks exploded by thousands of beachgoers was more prominent than what the city of Long Beach provided.

Thousands of people attend the Fourth of July party on the Long Beach Peninsula every year. Expect even a bigger attendance this weekend.
Long Beach Police Chief Flint Wright took time to answer questions from the Herald Monday morning.

"The beach is under the authority of Washington State Parks and is not in my jurisdiction," Wright said. "That being said, they follow the same state laws we in Long Beach do. Fireworks can be shot off June 29th through July 3rd from 9 am until 11 pm, July 4th from 9 am until 12 am, and July 5th from 9 am until 11 pm. Only legal fireworks are allowed.

Last week Pacific County Health and Human Services received notice of additional positive cases of COVID-19 in Pacific County.

One individual has been identified as an out of state resident, but has resided in the county for the past three months.This positive test will not count towards Pacific County's total number of cases. This individual has been admitted to the hospital and is receiving medical care.

As a result of contact tracing five additional positive cases have been identified. These individuals are close contacts to the out of state resident, and are Pacific County residents. One of the cases is an employee of a local seafood processing facility. The Pacific County Department of Health and Human Services is working with the facility to assess, test, and limit these.