Governor Inslee rolled three counties, Pierce, Cowlitz and Whitman back to phase 2 COVID-19 restrictions on Monday. In an unusual move, the change was made through a press release and not via a press conference.

In the press release issued Monday afternoon, Gov. Inslee stated, “These metric trends are driven by the virus and we must continue to do everything we can to sharpen our focus and keep COVID-19 activity down.”

However, the application of the metrics and the metrics calculations themselves are inconsistent leaving many business owners trying to understand why their county has been targeted to return to the more restrictive phase 2.

On April 9th, Gov. Inslee changed the criteria to remain in phase 3. In order to stay in phase 3, counties with more than 50,000 residents must keep a 14-day average of new COVID cases at or below 200 per 100,000 residents, and a seven-day average of new hospitalizations per 100,000 at five or less. Smaller counties are required to maintain a 14-day average of new cases at 30 or less, and a new seven-day hospitalization average at three or less.

Previously a county only had to fail one of the criteria before being forced back into phase 2.

Over 70 groups including several associations and chambers of commerce, urged the governor in a letter over the weekend not to rollback any counties to phase 2, citing the economic havoc it will cause their respective industries.

Additionally, officials in King and Snohomish counties are sounding the alarm for a potential rollback for those counties too. Stating the reason for an increase in cases is due to ‘baby showers, camping trips, high school sports, church events and get togethers in people’s homes.’

The restrictions in phase 2, however, target businesses which are not the primary source of new infections and, understandably, business owners are frustrated they are being singled out as a result.

The inconsistent application of the rules and changing rules at the last minute, introduces uncertainty and instability into the job market.

Washington Policy Center has previously stated that restrictive lockdowns are not working and studies show that is the case.

The lockdown restrictions on our state should be lifted and reasonable health guidelines allowed. Businesses in other states are operating safely. They can operate here too as long as they can show they can do safely limiting the spread of COVID-19.

This is the right approach to continue to re-open our state’s businesses safely.

For more on re-opening the economy under medical guidelines, see WPC’s Dr Roger Stark’s article on the ‘The Medical Argument for Reopening the Economy’.