Construction, outdoor recreation among COVID-19 restrictions that could soon be lifted in Washington

April 21, 2020 5:28 PM

Emily Oliver,

Posted: April 21, 2020 5:28 PM

Updated: April 22, 2020 7:43 AM

by Emily Oliver

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Governor Jay Inslee addressed the state’s plan to begin recovering from the COVID-19 outbreak on Tuesday, saying Washington may soon be able to lift certain restrictions.

“We will not be able to lift many of the restrictions by May 4,” said Inslee. “We will let you know when we can lift those restrictions as soon as we know.”

Inslee said, if health modeling holds up, healthcare workers could soon be allowed to perform elective surgeries again. Restrictios on outdoor recreation could also be lifted in the coming weeks.

Furthermore, Inslee has been working with construction companies to create a sensible plan that might soon allow construction to continue, with certain safety measures in place.

“This recovery requires a strategic approach guided by science, not politics,” said Inslee.

The recovery includes a wide range of testing, paired with contact tracing and isolation for those who test positive, he said.

Washington remains drastically behind the testing capacity. Inslee said he sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday to address the issue.

When the state does start its path to economic recovery, businesses will reopen in phases, Inslee said, complete with rigorous cleaning, protective equipment, screening, tele-work, and continued social distancing restrictions in place.

READ: UW report predicts Washington could potentially ease COVID-19 restrictions by mid-May