PORT ANGELES – Providing state officials approve it, Clallam County will move into Phase 2 of the Governor’s Safe Start plan on Monday, June 1.
At Wednesday’s Board of Health meeting, Health Officer Dr. Unthank recommended the move with the exception of overnight camping. The Board approved her recommendation and County Commissioners agreed at a special meeting a short time later.
Dr. Unthank gave her reasons for holding off on overnight camping.
“In consultation with our neighboring tribes and with many of our citizens, there’s a real concern about stimulating tourism to our area, and one of the primary drivers of tourism to our area is outdoor recreation and especially camping. And so what I am proposing to the Board is that we hold off opening overnight camping until overnight camping becomes allowable in the majority of the state, when the state moves to phase 2. But I am proposing that we move to allow all other Phase 2 activities.”
Unthank was asked if it is reasonable to think we could move on to Phase 3 in as little as 3 weeks, the minimum proposed by the Governor. She said she thought it was possible but unlikely.
“Now if, of course, we move to Phase 2 and everyone does really well, our businesses are safe, our people continue maintaining safe social distancing and we don’t see a spike in cases, then I think we could potentially be ready as early as three weeks. I think that’s very unlikely though. I think we’re going to see an increase in cases. That’s just expected. And so I would anticipate you’re closer to six weeks between phases, but it really depends a lot on our citizens, on how well they practice that safe physical distancing when they return to work and to life.”
State approval would make Clallam County the 25th county to move into Phase 2 after Kittitas, Thurston, and Walla Walla counties made similar moves Wednesday.
Phase 2 allows the opening of restaurants, salons and other businesses with various restrictions.