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Home My WebLink About46 21 timfir')K- 72r ' 34 COUNTY OF JEFFERSON State of Washington In the Matter of Adopting a Resolution Regarding Public} Use of County Facilities During Covid-19 By Repealing } RESOLUTION 46 21 and Replacing Resolution 35-21 } WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee declared a State of Emergency in all Counties in Washington State to due to the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus; and WHEREAS,on March 10,2020,the Jefferson County Health Officer issued a Public Health Order to control and prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus; and WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a pandemic; and WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved a Declaration of Emergency due to the COVID-19 Pandemic; and WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee signed Proclamation 20-25 declaring that a State of Emergency continues to exist in all Counties in Washington State due to COVID-19; and WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved a Resolution Temporarily Limiting Access to County Buildings and Offices through April 24, 2020, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic; and WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved a Resolution Adopting a Temporary Policy for a Limited Period of Time to Grant "Emergency Paid Administrative Leave"; Authorize Telecommuting; and Authorize Sick Leave Advancement for employees due to the COVID-19 Pandemic through April 24, 2020; and WHEREAS, on April 13, 2020, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution 20-20 extending the Order Temporarily Limiting Access to County Buildings and Offices due to the COVID-19 Pandemic through May 4, 2020 or for as long as the Governor's Stay Home—Stay Healthy Order is in effect; and WHEREAS, on April 13, 2020, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved a Resolution Adopting a Second Temporary Policy to Authorize Telecommuting; Temporary Expanded Use of Employer Provided Sick Leave; Temporary Sick Leave Advancement; and Use of Leave provided under the Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) due to the COVID-19 Pandemic through May 4, 2020 or for as long as the Governor's Stay Home— Stay Healthy Order is in effect; and Page 1 of 4 WHEREAS, on May 4,2020, Governor Jay Inslee extended through May 31, 2020, his Stay Home — Stay Healthy Order throughout Washington State, as provided in Proclamation 20-25 as amended, and adopted the Safe Start Washington plan allowing phased reopening of the economy and activities in Proclamation 20-25.3; and WHEREAS, on May 28, 2020, Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Thomas Locke issued Directive No 2020-2 requiring all individuals to wear face coverings over their noses and mouths at indoor public settings, or at outdoor locations and cannot maintain distancing of approximately six feet, effective June 1, 2020; and directing that owners and operators shall not permit non-employees to enter a business unless wearing a cloth face covering,except while eating or drinking, effective when Jefferson County began full implementation of Phase 2 of the Safe Start Washington plan; and WHEREAS,on June 24,2020,the Secretary of Health issued Order 20-03,effective June 26, 2020, requiring all individuals in Washington State to wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth when in any indoor or outdoor public setting, except under certain circumstances, which provides a minimum level of protection for Washingtonians when they are not at work where the Department of Labor& Industries' face covering requirements apply; and WHEREAS, rates of COVID-19 transmission and hospitalization have been on the rise throughout the summer of 2021 due to the highly contagious Delta variant, largely in the unvaccinated population; and WHEREAS, fully vaccinated persons obtain a high level of protection from the vaccine both in terms of getting sick and, even if there is a breakthrough infection for fully vaccinated persons from getting a severe version of the disease; and WHEREAS,the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated on July 27,2021 that to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if people are in an area of substantial or high transmission; and WHEREAS, concern and uncertainty exist about the possibility of increased transmission of current and future COVID-19 variants to children, the immunocompromised and vaccinated populations; and WHEREAS, on July 26, 2021, Health Officers from eight Puget Sound Counties, including Clallam and Jefferson, released the following recommendation: "The health officers of King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap, Clallam, Jefferson, San Juan, and Grays Harbor counties have joined together to pass on their best public health advice to protect you, your family, and our communities. We recommend all residents wear facial coverings when in indoor public settings where the vaccination status of those around you is unknown. This step will help reduce the risk of COVID-19 to the public, including customers and workers, help stem the increase in COVID- 19 cases and hospitalizations in many parts of the state and decrease the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. " and Page 2 of 4 WHEREAS, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic there have been waves of increased risk of transmission, requiring the ability to implement stricter mitigations and safety protocols as recommended by public health officials; and WHEREAS, science also suggests that by ensuring safe social distancing hygiene practices, and the use of cloth face coverings, many business and recreational activities can be conducted with limited exposure to customers, which is important to revitalizing Washington State's economy, restoring jobs, and providing necessary goods and services; and WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Health has confirmed localized person-to-person spread of COVID-19 in Washington State, significantly increasing the risk of exposure and infection to the general public, and creating an extreme public health risk that may spread quickly; and WHEREAS, Proclamation 20-25 has been amended several times, with the most recent amendment occurring on May 21, 2021 in Proclamation 20-25.13; and, WHEREAS, as of March 1, 2021, COVID-19 vaccines became available for the general public and employees according to each individual's Washington State mandated priority order and Jefferson County, in order to promote public health during this pandemic, deems it in its interests to encourage employees to become vaccinated; and WHEREAS, as of June 11, 2021, most Jefferson County residents have been fully vaccinated; and WHEREAS, on June 11, 2021 Governor Inslee announced that industries may return to usual operations on June 30, 2021, except the May 21, 2021 masking guidance from the Washington Department of Labor& Industries in Publication F414-179-000 [05-2021] continues to apply; and WHEREAS, on June 29, 2020, the Secretary of Health issued Order 20-03.3, effective June 29, 2021, which requires unvaccinated persons to wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth when they are in a place where people from outside their household are present or in a place that is generally assessable to people from outside their household, subject to certain exceptions and exemptions listed in the order; and WHEREAS, RCW 38.52.070(2) vests emergency powers in the Board to take extraordinary measures for the preservation of public health and to relieve loss, hardship, and suffering; Page 3 of 4 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners that: 1. The attached Policy for Visitors to Jefferson County Facilities to Protect Jefferson County Employees from COVID-19 and comply with Secretary of Health Order 20-03.3 (the Policy) is hereby adopted. The Policy shall remain in effect during the term of the temporary public health emergency. 2. This Resolution shall repeal and replace Resolution 35-21 of Jefferson County and shall be effective immediately upon adoption. d 6 rl,fri 'OVED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2021. sir `.r ; \\ St AL: p 1 JEFFERSON COUNTY BO• RD "F COMMISSIONERS / K. ' a- hair Ai ti ^ e .,_ .'' - -en v ember ATTEST: ��' L '�_.. 616t-eL. ei i Isenhour, Member Carolyn llaway, CMC Clerk of the Board Page 4 of 4 POLICY FOR VISITORS TO JEFFERSON COUNTY FACILITIES TO PROTECT JEFFERSON COUNTY EMPLOYEES FROM COVID-19 AND COMPLY WITH SECRETARY OF HEALTH ORDER 20-03.3 1. All Visitors Must Wear a Mask or Other Protective Equipment. All visitors to county indoor facilities must wear a cloth facial covering (a"mask") over the nose and mouth at all times to prevent transmitting droplets. 2. Exception for Courts. The judges of the District and Superior Courts have authority to modify the requirements in this policy as necessary to meet statutory or constitutional requirements for their courtrooms. 3. Americans With Disabilities Act Compliance. Pursuant to the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. §§ 12101-12213) or the Washington State Law Against Discrimination (ch. 49.60 RCW), a visitor may request/receive an accommodation to the face covering requirements in this policy. Adopted: July 28,2021 Policy for Visitors to Jefferson County Facilities to Protect Jefferson County Employees from COVID-19