HomeMy WebLinkAboutPhase 2 HO Recommendations Final 052120To: Jefferson County Board of Health
615 Sheridan Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
www.JeffersonCountyPublicHealth.org
As the health officer for Jefferson County duly appointed under RCW 70.05.050, I
recommend that Jefferson County request a variance to implement a subset of Phase 2
modifications of the Safe Start Washington Plan.
The basis of this recommendation is that opening certain activities in Jefferson County before
other neighboring counties would create a powerful and unwanted stimulus to tourism with the
potential to overwhelm local facilities, impair the ability to maintain appropriate social
distancing strategies, and potentially increase the transmission of pandemic coronavirus. Once
neighboring counties have moved into Phase 2 implementation, this concern will be substantially
reduced and full implementation of all Phase 2 modifications is recommended.
Phase 2 Variance Activities Recommended for Implementation upon Department of Health
Approval:
Recreation: Outdoor recreation involving fewer than 5 people outside your household excluding
all overnight camping on State and County lands.
Gatherings: Gather with no more than 5 people outside your household per week, masking
encouraged if social distancing cannot be maintained. Visitors from high prevalence areas
strongly discouraged. Graduation activities consistent with Phase 2 limitations, including use of
Drive -In theatre facilities are specifically allowed.
Travel: Essential travel and limited non-essential travel for Phase I and 2 permissible activities.
Out -of -area tourism strongly discouraged until Regional Phase 2 implementation.
Business/Employers: Manufacturing (non-essential repair, maritime industry, and others),
additional construction phases, in-home domestic services (nannies, housecleaning, etc.),
professional services/office-based business (telework strongly encouraged), pet grooming
[preexisting customers], hair and nail salons/barbers [pre-existing customers], Drive-in movie
theaters [take out food service]
Phase 2 Variance Activities NOT Recommended until Regional Phase 2 Implementation:
Recreation: Outdoor activity with 5 or fewer people involving overnight camping [State and
County Lands]
Community Health
Developmental Disabilities
360-385-9400
360-385-9401 (f)
Always working for a safer and healthier community
Environmental Public Health
360-385-9444
(f) 360-379-4487
Business/Employ: Restaurants with sit down service, real estate (beyond current permitted
activities), retail (in-store purchases), professional services/office-based business [tourism
focused]
Signed
Thomas Locke, MD, MPH
Jefferson County Health Officer
Community Health
Developmental Disabilities
360-385-9400
360-385-9401 (f)
Date
Always working for a safer and healthier community
Environmental Health
Water Quality
360-385-9444
(f) 360-379-4487