HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2020-018Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2020-232
File ID: AB2020-232 Version: 1 Status: Approved
File Created: 05/26/2020 Entered by: DBrown@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Council Office File Type: Resolution
Assigned to: Council (Special) Final Action: 06/02/2020
Agenda Date: 06/02/2020 Enactment #: RES 2020-018
Primary Contact Email: DBrown@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Resolution of the Whatcom County Health Board applying for variance under Governor Inslee's Safe
Start Washington Plan to move to Phase 2
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Resolution of the Whatcom County Health Board applying for variance under Governor Inslee's Safe
Start Washington Plan to move to Phase 2
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To:
06/01/2020 Council (Special) DISCUSSED
06/02/2020 Council APPROVED
Aye: 7 Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Frazey, Elenbaas, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Attachments: Resolution - Revised for 6.2.2020
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 61312020
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HEALTH BOARD RESOLUTION
PROPOSED BY:
INTRODUCTION DATE: JUNE 2, 2020
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-018
APPLYING UNDER GOVERNOR INSLEE'S
SAFE START WASHINGTON PLAN TO MOVE TO PHASE 2
WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee declared a
State of Emergency for all counties throughout the state as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak
in the United States and the confirmed person -to -person spread of COVID-19 in Washington
state; and
WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu declared a
State of Emergency in Whatcom County due to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a state of
pandemic due to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared a National
Emergency due to COVID-19, and on March 22, 2020 a Major Disaster was declared for the
State of Washington; and
WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, Governor Inslee imposed a "Stay Home - Stay
Healthy" Order throughout Washington State prohibiting all people in Washington State
from leaving their homes or participating in social, spiritual, and recreational gatherings of
any kind regardless of the number of participants, and all non -essential businesses in
Washington State; and
WHEREAS, on May 4, 2020, Governor Inslee issued a Proclamation modifying his
"Stay Home - Stay Healthy" Order, with a phased -in approach to re -open Washington,
which will increase the number of Whatcom County residents and frequency of their
encounters with non -household members, and will increase their risk of exposure to persons
with infectious COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on May 19, 2020, the Governor outlined circumstances under which
counties that meet certain criteria could apply for a variance to allow them to move to Phase
2 of the Safe Start Washington approach; and
WHEREAS, on May 29, 2020, the Governor announced the end of the "Stay Home -
Stay Healthy" Order and outlined new metrics and criteria for counties to move to Phase 2;
and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County meets the criteria for Phase 2, using case count data
from May 16 - May 30, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County Public Health Officer Dr. Greg Stern has reviewed the
current status of COVID-19 in Whatcom County, as well as the plan for reopening, and has
provided a signed recommendation to request the State to allow implementation of all Phase
2 modifications; and
WHEREAS, necessary plans and resources have been demonstrated and documented
for inclusion in the application, including the following:
1. County epidemiology, including populations disproportionally affected by COVID-19
and cases without an epidemiologic link to other cases
2. Plans and identified resources making COVID-19 testing available and accessible to
everyone in the county with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, including for
residents who are low income, have no insurance, or are underserved
1 3. Speed in which residents are tested following the onset of symptoms
2 4. The number of reported COVID-19 tests performed by week over the past four weeks,
3 as well as the number of negative and positive test results for this period
4 5. Whatcom County's plans and resources to continue performing case investigation and
5 contact tracing
6 6. Plans and resources to house people in isolation or quarantine who do not have a home
7 of wish to isolate or quarantine outside of their home if it becomes necessary
8 7. Plans to provide needed services to people in home isolation and quarantine that these
9 individuals could not otherwise obtain without going into the community (e.g., food,
10 medications, etc.)
11 8. Plans to rapidly responded to outbreaks in congregate care settings and workplaces
12 9. Number and epidemiologic nature of outbreaks in the last four weeks
13 10. Plans to protect disproportionately affected populations, including low income
14 communities and communities of color
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16 WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Health Board chooses to move forward with an
17 application to implement all Phase 2 modifications determining that it is in the public's best
18 interest.
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20 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Health Board hereby
21 approves moving forward with an application to be submitted to the Washington state
22 Department of Health that would allow Whatcom County to implement all Phase 2
23 modifications.
24 �%IJ111111iIII/
25 ®AaP' 2 day of June 2020.
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27 ® °� OO��� r' WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
28 ,ITT T: WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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31 Dana Brown i v�i Q&k®fthe Council Bar'y uchanan, Council Chair
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34 APPROVED A`S�TO FORM:
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36 /s/ Karen N. Frakes
37 Civil Deputy Prosecutor
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