Washington state to ease some COVID-19 restrictions

Gov. Jay Inslee says some COVID-19 restrictions in Washington will be eased beginning next week and state will change its reopening plan to move from a county-based oversight system to one focused on regions.

At a news conference Tuesday Democratic governor said state’s new guidelines would go into effect Jan. 11. Inslee said some live entertainment with very tight capacity restrictions and some fitness programs would be allowed.

Washington will divide each of state's 39 counties into eight geographic regions based on health system resources when considering virus oversight.

All counties will begin in Phase 1 and reduction of COVID-19 metrics will determine when it vances into Phase 2. In Phase 2, restaurants could reopen at 25% capacity and sports events with limited capacity would be allowed as well.

In January, first confirmed case in United States was recorded, a Snohomish County man who h travelled to China. A month later, state also saw nation’s first lethal outbreak at a nursing home in Kirkland.

Since beginning of pandemic re have been more than 256,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Washington and more than 3,480 deaths.