THE PORT ANGELES GLOBE: 07/03/21

Saturday, July 3, 2021

Inslee statement on upcoming economic reopening.

Contradictory statement makes me confused.

Press release dated 6/29/21

https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-statement-upcoming-economic-reopening

Gov. Jay Inslee released a statement today ahead of Washington’s upcoming June 30 reopening for individuals and businesses preparing to return to normal capacity and operations.

“Washington has come a long way since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the country was found in our state January 2020, and that is in no small part due to Washingtonians’ dedication and resilience in protecting themselves and their communities throughout the pandemic.

“Because folks listened to science and stayed home to stay healthy, wore masks and got vaccinated, we can now safely fully re-open our state’s economy and cultural centers after 15 long months. It hasn’t been easy, but I’m proud of how Washingtonians came together, persevered and sacrificed to fight this virus, and now we’re finally in a place that is safe enough to end this chapter.

“Even though Wednesday marks a new stage in our continued efforts to defeat this pandemic, we still have work to do. Continued success depends on everyone getting vaccinated and encouraging any loved one who has not yet received this lifesaving vaccine to do so, and quickly.

“Let’s keep it up, Washington – get vaccinated and stay safe.”

Secretary of Health Umair Shah, MD, MPH, thanked Washingtonians for their dedication to personal and community safety, but emphasized that the work to defeat the COVID-19 virus is not done.

"Washington was one of the first in the country to begin the fight against COVID-19. Thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of everyone in the state we have one of the most effective responses in the nation. I am so grateful for our partners in public health, health care, government, businesses and communities across the state, as well as the public,” Shah said. “Your tireless efforts have saved lives and made reopening possible. While this step forward is exciting, it does not mean the virus is gone or our work is over. Vaccination, testing and precautions like wearing masks if you are unvaccinated will be needed more than ever as businesses try to resume normal operations. If you have been waiting to get vaccinated, do it now in order to safely enjoy reopening and protect your loved ones and people around you."

Commerce Director Lisa Brown praised the resilience of Washington’s business community and emphasized the tie between economic recovery and continued increase of vaccination rates.

“We know our businesses are deeply dedicated to reopening safely and ensuring the health of their employees and customers. And Commerce remains committed to a strong economic recovery across all our communities – particularly those that were hit disproportionately hard by the pandemic,” Brown said. “But our economic recovery remains tied to our success fighting COVID-19. We hope this milestone inspires anyone who can get their vaccine but hasn’t done so yet to take that important step and help us become more resilient now and into the future.”

Indoor and outdoor guidance effective June 30

Effective 12:01 AM on June 30, all industry sectors previously covered by guidance in the Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery or the Safe Start Reopening Plan may return to usual capacity and operations, with limited exceptions for large indoor events (any event with more than 10,000 simultaneous participants in an indoor, enclosed space.)

Reopening guidance:

Vaccine verification/negative testing: Recommended but not required for large indoor and outdoor events

Capacity limitations: No restrictions in restaurants, bars, stores, businesses, theaters etc. (except large indoor events)

Physical distancing: No requirements

Facial coverings: Not required for vaccinated individuals, unless required by individual business

Travelers: Follow CDC recommendations

*Some exceptions will include schools and childcare centers that will continue to have some facial coverings and physical distancing requirements.

Requirements for places of employment issued by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries have been updated here. This resource continues to detail options for fully vaccinated workers to go without a mask, methods for verification of worker vaccination status, choices workers have to continue to mask up and other updated guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on the job and help employers meet their obligations to provide a safe and healthy workplace.

Background: Inslee announces statewide reopening date of June 30 and short-term statewide move to Phase 3

On Wednesday, June 30 and Thursday, July 1, the governor will participate in three community-led celebrations to acknowledge and celebrate end to current COVID restrictions. Inslee will travel to Tacoma, Spokane and Seattle to celebrate with community and business leaders, elected officials and Washington heroes who helped us through the COVID pandemic.

Related press release from the DOH

Washington ready for reopening, but some COVID-19 precautions remain.

Release issued 6/30/21

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom/Articles/ID/2848/Washington-ready-for-reopening-but-some-COVID-19-precautions-remain

OLYMPIA – As Washington state reopens for business and recreation today, the Department of Health (DOH) is encouraging people to keep doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19. Reopening does not mean the pandemic is over or that the risk of COVID-19 is gone.

The Secretary of Health’s mask order remains in place. If you are unvaccinated:

Continue wearing masks when indoors in public places.

Keep washing your hands and watching your distance.

Enable WA Notify for completely private exposure notifications and get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

As businesses begin to resume normal operations, these precautions will be needed more than ever to help protect people who are not vaccinated, including children who are not yet eligible.

People who are vaccinated can return to their regular lives for the most part, with a few exceptions like limits on large-scale events and mask requirements in some high-risk settings. Most sectors can operate as they did in January 2020, as long as they follow workplace safety requirements from the Department of Labor & Industries. However, counties and businesses can have more protective requirements and DOH urges people to respect the rules of the room they’re in.

While the state has made tremendous progress on vaccination, more than 35% of people 12 and older in the state have not yet gotten their first dose. DOH is continuing to see outbreaks in areas and settings where vaccination rates are lower. If you have been waiting to get vaccinated, now is the time. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and everyone around you. If you are already vaccinated, you can help by encouraging people you know to get their vaccine.

Note: Sounds contradictory to me. Are we completely open of not?

IN OTHER STATE NEWS HEADLINES:

CDC bans importing dogs from countries with high-risk for dog rabies.

Rabies has been eliminated in dogs born in the United States since 2007, but there is growing concern that importing dogs from across the world could spread the disease in an uncontrollable fashion.

AG FERGUSON: CALIFORNIA VAPING COMPANY WILL PAY $375,000 TO RESOLVE LAWSUIT OVER ILLEGAL SALES INTO WASHINGTON STATE.

AG FERGUSON STATEMENT AFTER MAJOR WIN IN BUCKHORN GOLD MINE CLEAN WATER ACT CASE.

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson issued the following statement today after U.S. District Court Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson issued a summary judgment in Ferguson’s federal lawsuit against two gold mining companies over years of water pollution stemming from the Buckhorn Mountain gold mine. Judge Peterson dismissed the companies’ main defenses, writing in the ruling that there is “no support” for their claims that the Attorney General’s Office cannot enforce all of the mine’s Clean Water Act permit.

State urges owners and operators of large commercial properties to review newly-posted list of buildings subject to Washington’s first-in-nation Clean Buildings Performance Standard.

Fecal Matters: 10 beaches in Puget Sound under no-contact advisory

Affected counties: Jefferson, King, Mason, and Thurston.

Cleaning up: On Bellingham’s waterfront, a cleanup plan for the Chlor-Alkali Area.

When industrial chemicals form the very name of a contaminated site, that’s a good sign that cleanup will involve some complex environmental and scientific work. The Chlor-Alkali Area of the former Georgia-Pacific West pulp mill on Bellingham Bay is a case in point.

WDFW seeks public input on coastal steelhead seasons.

July 28 virtual public town hall will be first in a series

OLYMPIA – With recent and long term declines in coastal steelhead and last season’s early closure to the 2020-2021 coastal steelhead sport fishery, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fishery managers are hosting a suite of virtual public town hall meetings this summer and fall to gather feedback from the public as they prepare for next season.

FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO DC:

House Appropriations Subcommittees Advance Vital Federal Funding for Tribal Relocation Efforts in Western Washington

Kilmer-Led Effort Includes Over $1.6 Million for Relocation Development Project for Hoh Tribe, Over $1.4 Million for Water System Improvement for Quileute Tribe

Cantwell, Housing Advocates, Local Officials in Spokane Push to Include Affordable Housing in Infrastructure Package

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2021 would help produce more than 66,000 units of affordable housing around Washington state.

Senator Murray Statement on Washington State Re-opening Day.

“After a very long and very tough year, Washington state is finally coming out on the other end of this pandemic. This incredible progress is thanks to the health care workers, first responders, and essential workers who have worked tirelessly to save lives and get us all through the pandemic. Reaching this point could not have been possible if millions of people across our state hadn’t come together to mask up, socially distance, and get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

“The American Rescue Plan has made a big difference—getting shots in arms, money in people’s pockets, and helping us start to reopen schools quickly and safely—but getting back to normal is not good enough when normal wasn’t working for too many Washington state families in the first place. That’s why I’m focused on making sure the federal government makes foundational investments in basic, longstanding needs. We had a housing crisis, a child care crisis, and a climate crisis before the pandemic—and making investments to address these crises can’t wait any longer.

“I want Washington state families to know that I am fighting to make child care affordable for every family, to pass comprehensive paid leave for the first time ever, to make community college free for anyone who wants to invest in their future, and so much more. I am committed to making a historic investment in affordable housing and transit—all while tackling the climate crisis head on and creating millions of good-paying jobs. It’s time for us to build back stronger and fairer for every Washington state family.

(2) THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES

WORLD:

‘Syrians still have ambition and hope’

As a witness to the impacts of Syria’s internal conflict over the last decade, Bassel Al-Madani, a young engineer and former volunteer with the UN, was inspired to set up Entrepioneers 2030, a group that rallies youth to get involved in shaping the future of their country.

400,000 in Tigray cross 'threshold into famine', with nearly 2 million on the brink, Security Council told.

Senior UN officials appealed on Friday for immediate and unrestricted humanitarian access to Tigray – and for an end to deadly attacks on aid workers - as the Security Council held its first open meeting on the conflict in the restive northern Ethiopian region.

‘Remain vigilant’ against malicious technologies that could imperil future generations

With over 4.6 billion internet users around the world, digital advances continue to revolutionize human life, but “we must remain vigilant” in the face of malicious technologies that “could imperil the security of future generations”, the head of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) told the Security Council on Tuesday.

FROM THE FIELD: 4.4 million Nigerians facing ‘catastrophic food conditions’

Some 4.4 million people in Nigeria are facing what the UN humanitarian office, OCHA, is describing as “catastrophic food conditions”.

Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a UN Security Council Briefing on Ethiopia and the Situation in Tigray---USUN

The United States Takes Further Actions against the Burmese Military Regime.