Whenever Clark County begins to reopen after the state’s stay-at-home orders, success will depend on responsible actions from residents, the availability of testing for COVID-19 and effective contact tracing. While the economy will not return to anything resembling “normal” until a vaccine is developed, the public’s sense of security will be essential as businesses gradually reopen.
County officials have applied to enter Phase 2 of Washington’s Safe Start program. Phase 2 allows for restaurants and taverns to open at 50 percent capacity, with no table size larger than five people. It also includes the opening of hair and nail salons, office-based businesses and pet grooming facilities.
With the state on partial lockdown since March 23 because of the global coronavirus pandemic, an afternoon spent getting a beer and an appetizer — followed by a haircut for you and one for your dog — sounds positively liberating. But confidence that the virus is under control will determine the willingness of people to risk public interaction.
“Based on the level of COVID-19 activity in the community and our ability to respond quickly, effectively and appropriately, we’re optimistic we’ll receive a favorable review and approval to move to Phase 2,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County health officer and Public Health director.
The county has been in this position before. On May 22, officials asked for a variance to move to Phase 2, but that request was put on hold following a coronavirus outbreak at Firestone Pacific Foods in Vancouver. Firestone has been connected to about 20 percent of the county’s more than 550 cases — through employees or close contacts. It also has demonstrated how easily the virus can spread without proper precautions.
Among the metrics defined by state leaders for determining a county’s ability to reopen are health care system readiness; testing availability; case and contact investigations; and ability to protect vulnerable populations. In measuring those standards, Gov. Jay Inslee has gently relaxed constraints. “Counties will have more flexibility to demonstrate that they have the capability to stay on top of the virus,” he said last week. “This does not mean, obviously, that we’re returning to normal. It means that … we’re successfully moving forward.”
As businesses begin to reopen, caution will be required. Employees who have close contact with the public will be required to wear protective masks; patrons will be urged to follow suit; and social distancing — remaining at least 6 feet apart — will be expected.
Recognizing that increased personal contact results in increased coronavirus cases does not require a virologist. As Clark County begins to reopen, cases will increase; that is inevitable. But officials’ desire to avoid overwhelming the health care system has been realized, and the economy must be restarted, preferably sooner rather than later.
Opening businesses, however, is one thing. Attracting customers might be another if public perception is that the risk remains high. More than 110,000 deaths in the United States have been attributed to COVID-19 despite widespread stay-at-home orders, and more than 1,100 of those have been in Washington.
The choice is not between the economy and public health; both are necessary considerations, and aggressive measures to mitigate the virus have prevented an even greater economic calamity.
Now, as the county looks to move forward, ensuring that businesses take appropriate precautions and that health departments can effectively slow outbreaks will be essential to reassuring customers.
