Thurston Board of Health to Vote Friday re Variance to Move to Safe Start Phase 2

OLYMPIA - Thu., May 21- Thurston County's Board of Health is set to meet Friday, May 22 at 8:30 a.m. about whether to apply to the state to move to Safe Start Phase 2 re-opening rules.

This board is comprised of the three Thurston County Commissioners. If they approve moving forward, the same commissioners will reconvene next Tuesday, May 26, at 9:00 a.m. to vote again on the same matter, this time in their roles as County Commissioners. After this second vote, if approved, the county will submit an application to the Washington State Dept. of Health, which would then approve the application and make certain Thurston County businesses eligible to re-open under specific rules.

The county board's action comes just three business days after Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Tue., May 19 that Thurston County became eligible to apply to move to Phase 2. 

Under Phase 2 the following business categories get relief from the Stay Home, Stay Healthy restrictions:

- Remaining manufacturing

- Additional construction phases

- In-home/domestic services (nannies, housecleaning, etc.)

- Retail (in-store purchases allowed with restrictions)

- Real estate

- Professional services/office-based businesses (telework remains strongly encouraged)

- Hair and nail salons/barbers

- Pet grooming

- Restaurants/taverns (less than 50% capacity, tables max at 5, no bar-area seating)

Those interested in following the county boards' meetings can do so only by telephone or livestream video on the Thurston County YouTube channel. The dial-in number is 360-252-9020.