Submitted by Washington State Department of Health

The Washington State Department of Health announced on Jan. 15, that based on Gov. Jay Inslee’s Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery plan, all eight regions in Washington will remain in Phase 1 until at least Monday, Jan. 25, 2021.

As outlined in the governor’s COVID-19 plan, regions must meet four metrics in order to move into Phase 2. These metrics provide an overview of current COVID-19 trends and healthcare system readiness in each region. The four metrics are:

• Decreasing trend of 10 percent or more in two-week rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population.

• Decreasing trend of 10 percent or more in two-week rate of new COVID-19 hospitalizations.

• Less than 90 percent intensive care unit occupancy.

• COVID-19 test positivity of less than 10 percent.

DOH will reassess all the metrics each week and announce any changes to the current phase status every Friday. For more detailed information on where each of the eight regions falls with regards to the four metrics visit www.doh.wa.gov.