Inslee Announces Pause to Reopening Plan with Several Counties Facing Rollbacks

Governor Jay Inslee announced Tuesday that he will place a two week pause on the state's phased COVID-19 reopening plan as roughly a dozen counties were in danger of falling back a phase Friday.

Inslee said state health officials have confirmed a 4th wave of COVID over the past several weeks, but it's possible the surge has already plateaued.

"We're at the intersection of progress and failure and we cannot veer from the path of progress." stated Inslee, "Our economy is starting to show early signs of growth, we've had great legislative victories on a number of issues and we know vaccines are the ticket to full reopening."

Inslee added that the decision making process involves a constant tension between providing certainty and flexibility, with Tuesday's change firmly based on flexibility.

Counties will be re-assessed in two weeks by the same metrics as before: case rate and hospitalizations.