​Island, Lewis, Mason Counties Approved To Enter Phase 3

On Friday, Island, Lewis and Mason Counties were approved to move into Phase 3 of Gov. Inslee's Safe Start reopening plan.

Phase 3 allows the expansion of group gatherings in certain settings and softens restrictions on dining. As of Friday, a total of 15 counties had been approved to move into Phase 3.

The third phase of reopening allows the reopening of customer-facing government services, libraries, museums and all other business activities except for nightclubs and events with gatherings of more than 50 people.

Further, the softened restrictions of Phase 3 allow up to 50 people to gather for outdoor recreation, and recreational facilities like gyms and public pools can now reopen to 50 percent capacity.

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Adjustments have also been made for spiritual or religious services. Now, an indoor capacity of up to 50 percent or 400 people, whichever number is less, is allowed.

Although quite unlike religious services, restaurants and taverns are now permitted to increase their capacities up to 75 percent with tables of up to 10 people, and bar seating has been reinstated. Inside those restaurants and taverns, bars can now allow seating of up to 25 percent capacity.

Non-essential travel is now allowed to resume in the 15 Phase 3 counties, and theaters can open at less than 50 percent capacity.

As 15 counties entered Phase 3 on Friday, King County entered Phase 2.

All counties that advanced into a new phase on Friday will all be required to remain in their current phases for three weeks before advancing.

Today, the only counties in the state in a full Phase 1 are Yakima, Benton and Franklin counties. Chelan and Douglas are in a modified Phase 1. No counties are in Phase 4, which has zero restrictions.

— Patch editor Charles Woodman contributed to this report