05/28/2020 - Phase II of Governor’s Phased Approach to Reopening Washington Plan
Port Orchard Moves into Phase II of Governor’s Phased Approach to Reopening Washington Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Mayor’s Office
MAY 28, 2020
(360) 876-4407
PORT ORCHARD, WA – Governor Jay Inslee’s office this morning accepted Kitsap County’s variance application to his Phased Approach to Reopening Washington Plan. The action allows multiple
individual businesses to open and small gatherings to occur with restrictions to ensure that safe practices are still followed to minimize the opportunity for further spread of COVID-19.
“Port Orchard’s residents worked hard together and went beyond expectation to help keep coronavirus numbers low in our community,” said Mayor Rob Putaansuu. “It has been very difficult
for all of us so it is a significant relief that we can start reopening businesses and reconnect with our friends and family.”
“I encourage residents to support local businesses as they have been hit the hardest but please do so by taking safe and responsible measures to ensure that a second wave of the virus
does not impact our community. We have an increased responsibility to look out for each other and be smart about our activities. Shops and restaurants are required to follow many new
regulations that may feel inconvenient to you and it’s not easy on them so please be patient and supportive as they wade through the reopening process.”
To support the reopening, the Mayor’s Office is working with the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce and Port Orchard Bay Street Association to provide masks to our small businesses.
In an effort to support our small businesses and make it more convenient to visit downtown, the City will continue to suspend parking regulations until June 15th.
The governor’s officeconditions in the approved variance, include activities and business services listed in Phase II of Governor Inslee’s Phased Approach to Reopening Washington Plan
are now permitted in Kitsap County and exempt from the Stay Home – Stay Health Proclamation’s prohibitions. These activities and business services are:
Recreation:
Outdoor recreation involving 5 or fewer people outside your household (camping, beaches, etc.)
Gatherings: Gather with no more than 5 people outside your household per week
Travel: Essential travel and limited non-essential travel for Phase I & II permissible activities •
Businesses/employers:
Remaining manufacturing
Additional construction phases
In-home/domestic services (nannies, housecleaning, etc.)
Retail (in-store purchases allowed with restrictions)
Real estate
Professional services/office-based businesses (telework remains strongly encouraged)
Hair and nail salons/barbers
Pet grooming
Restaurants/taverns
The variance allows Kitsap County to make its own decisions to determine when it will be an appropriate time to move into Phase III with no less than a three-week timeframe to further
assess COVID-19 activity.
For full details on Phase II guidelines, please visit website.
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