All eight regions in Washington to remain in Phase 1

All eight regions in Washington will remain in Phase 1 until at least Monday, January 25, 2021.

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) made the announcement based on Governor Jay Inslee’s Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery plan.

“We know that all Washingtonians want to move forward as quickly as possible with respect to COVID-19. However, these metrics show that we are just not ready to do so now,” said Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, Washington’s Secretary of Health, in a news release last week. “We have made progress but need to continue to work together to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 across our state.”

• See also: 
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As outlined in the governor’s COVID-19 phased recovery plan, regions must meet each of the following four metrics in order to move into Phase 2:

1. A decreasing trend of 10% or more in a two-week rate of COVID-19 cases per 100k population.
2. A decreasing trend of 10% or more in a two-week rate of new COVID-19 hospitalizations.
3. Less than 90% Intensive Care Unit (ICU) occupancy.
4. COVID-19 test positivity of less than 10%.