October 15, 2020 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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County COVID-19 cases top 500
By Gordon Weeks 77
gordon@masoncounty. com
The number of Mason County resi-
dents who have tested positive for the
coronavirus has topped 500.
At 4 p.m. Tuesday, Mason County
Public Health reported three new cas-
es from the previous day to total 510
cases. That includes 48 active cases,
none hospitalized in Mason County
and one hospitalized outside Mason
County; 12,045 tests have been con-
ducted. Eight people in Mason County
have died from the disease, four of
them residents of Fir Lane Health &
Rehabilitation in Shelton.
Of the Mason County residents who
have tested positive for the disease,
88 are 19 years old and younger; 195
are ages 20 to 39; 128 are between the
ages of 40 and 59; 78 are between the
ages of 60 and 79; and 21 are 80 and
older.
To reduce the spread of the corona-
Virus, the agency encourages everyone
to wash their hands often and avoid
close contact with others; cover your
mouth and nose with a mask around
others and always cover your coughs
and sneezes; and monitorvyour health
daily and stay home if you are sick or
experiencing any COVID-19 symp-
toms.
Inslee relaxes some
coronavirus restriction-s
By Kirk Boxleitner
kbox/e/tner@masonoounty.com
With Gov. Jay Inslee announc-
ing several updates to Washington’s
“Safe Start” reopening plan Oct. 6,
the Shelton—Mason County Journal
spoke with the Shelton—Mason Coun-
ty Chamber of Commerce about how
the new guidance might affect busi-
ness, for better or worse.
Inslee attributed his new guidance
to conversations he’s had with busi-
nesses in the state. Chamber Execu-
tive Director Heidi McCutcheon said
Inslee had assigned staffers to sit in
on the Chamber’s virtual meetings for
the past couple of months.
At the same time, McCutcheon not-
ed that much' of the Chamber’s input
to the governor has been offered indi-
rectly, through those who had already
established audiences with Inslee, cit-
ing a lack of direct avenues to his of-
fice otherwise.
“It’s been a bit hit-and-miss, when
it comes to whom he’s granted an au-
dience,” McCutcheon said.
McCutcheon offered a similarly
mixed assessment of the new guid;
ance itself. While libraries’ regula-
tions now align more closely to those
of museums, allowing some indoor ac—
tivity in Phase 2 at 25% capacity, she
was disappointed at the lack of guid-
ance on libraries for Phase 3.
McCutcheon criticized what she
saw as potentially severe consequenc-
es of sudden shifts in regulations, and
what she said she believes to be an
inconsistent use of data-driven stan-
V dards.
“If you’re using certain data to de-
termine when each county qualifies
for the next phase, that shouldn’t
change midstride,” McCutcheon said.
“When you’re a restaurant with only
eight tables to begin with, it makes
a huge difference whether your seat-
ing capacity is 75% or 50%. With
150%, they might decide to only offer
carry—out, but with 75%, they might
think they can afford a waitress, a
dishwasher and more inventory, un-
til the standards shift again and they
have to lay off all the people they just
hired. That can kill a business.”
Guest occupancy at restaurants
must now be at 50% of the maximum
building occupancy or lower, as deter—
mined by the fire code, and while out-
door seating is permitted, it must also
be at 50% capacity.
The new restaurant guidelines
move alcohol cutoffs from 10 pm. to
11 pm. for Phases 2 and 3, and in-
crease the table size to six in Phase 2
and eight in Phase 3.
Although she has concerns about
the specifics of some new guidelines,
McCutcheon said it’s a positive devel—
opment when government eases the
degrees of regulations on local busi-
nesses and approves of eliminating
the indoor household member restric-
tion for indoor dining.
“Having the table size limit be five
was so arbitrary, since groups are
usually even-numbered,” McCutch-
eon said.
McCutcheon shared Inslee’s confi-
dence that businesses can continue to
serve customers safely under the new
guidance. .
“Here in Washington, we know the
threat of COVID is real, and we take
it seriously,” Inslee said Oct. 6. “It is
safety, and public health, that come
first before anything else in this un—
precedented time.”
“People in Mason County are al-
ready doing their part, by wearing
masks and socially distancing,” Mc-
Cutcheon said. “I don’t see any nega-
tives coming from easing up on the
requirements for our businesses, and
I’m looking forward to seeing an in: _’
crease in running, bicycling, kaya- ’
king and races of all kinds this fall,
with the new protocols for outdoor
recreation in Phases 2 and 3.”
Inslee had previously paused the
“Safe Start” reopening plan after a
sharp rise» in COVID cases in July,
and while all 39 counties in Wash-
ington will remain in their current
phases, his Oct. 6 announcement al-
lows for more activity in some of those
phases.
Movie theaters will be allowed
25% occupancy in Phase 2, and, for
the Shelton Cinemas, 50% occupancy
in Phase 3, with theater attendees
required to maintain 6-foot social
distance between households, and to
wear facial coverings at all times, ex-
cept when eating and drinking.
Wedding receptions’ number of al-
lowed attendees will increase to 50 in
Phase 3, while retail events such as
crafts sales and shows will be allowed
outdoors in Phase 3, but with their at-
tendance capped at 200 people. As for
real estate, open houses can resume,
but with attendance capped at their
counties’ gathering size limits.
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