On May 1, 2020, Governor Inslee announced a phased approach to reopening all aspects of public life in Washington State. This Safe Start Plan calls for four distinct phases lasting a minimum of three weeks each. Not all counties will be in the same phase at the same time. Snohomish County is currently in Phase 1. At this time, a move to Phase 2 is not automatic. In order to move to Phase 2, an application for a variance must be submitted to the Washington State Secretary of Health. On May 19, 2020, the Department of Health issued instructions (Exhibit A) on how counties can apply for a variance to move from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of the Safe Start Plan. In Snohomish County, the variance request begins with submission to the Board of a signed recommendation by Dr. Spitters that the county move into Phase 2. Dr. Spitters has issued a recommendation to that effect, which is included with the application. The next step in the process is for the Board to take official action and, by a majority vote, recommend moving forward with an application (Exhibit B) to move to Phase 2. Resolution 20-16 formally authorizes submission of a variance application for Snohomish County.
If Resolution 20-16 (Exhibit C) is approved, the County Council will vote on the District’s plan to apply for Phase 2. The approvals by the legislative bodies will be packaged and sent to the State, along with documentation regarding testing processes, data on reported positive tests, investigation protocols, isolation and quarantine facilities, and hospital preparedness. The State Secretary of Health will then approve or deny the application for a variance.