State moving to Phase 3 next week

DAVENPORT – More re-openings are coming next week. Gov. Jay Inslee announced a statewide move to Phase 3 of his re-opening plan effective Monday, March 22.

The phase, the details of which hadn’t previously been released prior to Inslee’s announcement, allows up to 50% occupancy or 400 people maximum in indoor spaces like restaurants, gyms and movie theaters.

Phase 3 also allows up to 400 spectators at high school sports games. That measure takes effect March 18, so Reardan and Davenport home football games can host up to 400 fans this weekend. Larger sports events, like Seahawks and Mariners home games, are allowed up to 25% occupancy, or 9,000 people, whichever is less.

Many have joked that 9,000 people is already the maximum number of people that attend Mariners games. The state’s Major League Baseball team, which hasn’t made the playoffs since 2001 (the longest drought in major American professional sports), begins its season April 1.

Events in indoor facilities, like basketball games and large conferences, can have up to 400 people, as long as the 400 number doesn’t exceed 50% capacity.

Under Phase 3 guidelines, high school basketball and wrestling is permitted. The two sports, deemed the most high-risk for COVID-19 transmission, can’t compete under Phase 1 or 2.

Inslee also announced phases will be evaluated after the move to Phase 3 county by county, instead of region by region, which had been the case the last few months. Counties will be individually evaluated every three weeks.

Small counties with populations less than 50,000 have to maintain a 14-day average of new COVID-19 cases at 30 or fewer and a seven-day hospitalization average at three or fewer to remain in Phase 3. If not, that county is at risk of moving back a phase.

If the statewide ICU capacity reaches a number greater than 90%, all counties will move back a phase.

Inslee also announced a move forward in vaccination phases to Phase 1B Tier 2. Beginning March 17, workers in agriculture, food processing, grocery stores and public transit are eligible to be vaccinated. The phase also includes people over the age of 16 who are pregnant or have a disability that puts them at high-risk.