Clallam County commissioners will consider a resolution rescinding their March 2020 COVID-19 emergency declaration effective Nov. 1 while Jefferson County commissioners will consider extending it today.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced in September that the February 2020 state of emergency order concerning the unique coronovirus will be lifted on Oct. 31 in light of adjustments made to an endemic virus.
That will precede the federal heath emergency, which will remain in place through Jan. 31, according to an order by Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Clallam County commissioners will consider a resolution that has the county follow the state guidelines during its workshop this morning at 9 a.m.
The hybrid meeting is in the county commissioners meeting room in the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles. The meetings can be viewed online at http://www.clallam.net/features/meetings.html. To participate via Zoom video, visit https://zoom.us/j/875561784. To listen only, call 253-2125-8782 then enter meeting ID 875 561 7844 and passcode 12345.
Jefferson County commissioners have drafted a 13th temporary COVID-19 response policy that would extend the emergency at least through the end of the year.
To view the meeting live, go to www.co.jefferson.wa.us and follow the links under “Quick Links: Videos of Meetings-Streaming Live.” To join the meeting online, go to https://zoom.us/j/93777841705. To listen only call 1-253-215-8782 and enter access code 937-7784-1705#.
The declarations gave counties more flexibility to spend money responding to the pandemic. It also authorized county officials to seek state and federal assistance and reimbursement for money spent on the COVID-19 response.
As Clallam County Commissioner Mark Ozias has explained, rather than going through a governmental process and then spending the money, the declaration allowed them to spend the money and then go through the process later.
Jefferson County commissioners previously indicated that they are overall in favor of maintaining the emergency orders through at least the remainder of the year for the following reasons.
• Health experts expect increases in COVID-19 cases through the fall and winter due to more people gathering inside and a lack of masking when in indoor spaces.
• Maintaining the orders provides the county the ability to maintain access to emergency funds for testing via the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
• The action also allows the county to maintain compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) by holding hybrid public meetings and ability to maintain personnel policies such as workplace requirements for county employees with regard to masking and paid sick leave.
Though Inslee’s emergency order will be lifted, some things, such as masking in healthcare facilities, still will be required per direction from the state Department of Health.
Vaccine requirements for healthcare workers and those working in public education will be lifted. However, employers may still require vaccination in their terms of employment.
Employees of state agencies still will be required to get vaccinated.
The state Department of Health confirmed the first case of COVID-19 on Jan. 21, 2020, in Snohomish County
More than 14,000 Washingtonians have died of COVID-19, according to state health data as of Sept. 14, which is among the lowest per capita COVID death rates of any state. Washington continues to announce about 10 deaths daily due to the virus, according to the governor’s office.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached by email at brian.gawley@peninsuladailynews.com.
Reporter Ken Park contributed to this story.
