Entire state remains in Phase 1 in state’s Roadmap to Recovery

The entire state will remain in Phase 1 of the current Roadmap to Recovery plan to restart the state until at least Feb. 1.

The latest state Department of Health report released Friday shows all the state’s nine regions failing to meet the criteria to move into Phase 2.

To move into Phase 2, each region must show a 10% decrease in cases per 100,000 population over the previous two weeks when compared to the two weeks prior; a 10% decrease in new COVID-19 hospital admission rate per 100,000 population over two weeks; ICU bed occupancy of less than 90%; and coronavirus test positivity rate of less than 10%.

The west region, which includes Grays Harbor, Pacific, Thurston and Lewis counties, showed acceptable levels in two categories: average seven day percent of occupancy of ICU staffed beds (88%), and seven day percent of positive COVID-19 tests (9%).

The trend in 14-day rate of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population was considered “flattening” at -8%. The trend in the 14-day rate of new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population is “increasing or high” in Friday’s report at 14%. These are compared to a 30% decrease in the 14-day rate of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population, and a 7% decrease in hospitalizations, in the Jan. 15 report.