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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPED 2020-06-01 Item 1C - Update - Business Reopening Phases for Business RecoveryCity of Tukwila Allan Ekberg, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Planning and Economic Development Committee FROM: Derek Speck, Economic Development Administrator CC: Mayor Ekberg DATE: May 27, 2020 SUBJECT: Business Recovery Update: Reopening Phases ISSUE This item is intended as an overview of Washington State's phases of business reopening. BACKGROUND On February 29th, 2020 Governor Inslee proclaimed a state of emergency in Washington State due to the COVID-19 outbreak. On March 16, 2020 Governor Inslee announced a statewide closure of all restaurants, bars, entertainment and recreational facilities, and a limit on large gatherings, due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases. On March 23rd, the Governor issued the Stay Home Stay Healthy order which required all non -essential business functions to close from March 25th through May 4th. On May 4th he extended that order through May 31 st On April 21st the Governor announced the State's recovery plan "Safe Start" and explained that the loosening of restrictions will look more "like the turn of a dial than the flip of a switch." Businesses and activities will be allowed to reopen in four phases. On May 5th all counties started in Phase 1. The movement to future phases and reopening of businesses will be dependent on the decrease of COVID-19 infections and deaths which will be dependent on sufficient testing, contact identification, personal protective equipment for those who need it, and adequate capacity in our health care system. As of May 25th, twenty-one of Washington State's counties have moved into Phase 2. To apply for a variance, counties must have an average of less than 10 new cases per 100,000 residents over a 14-day period. The application process requires support from the local health officer, the local board of health, local hospitals, and the county commission/council. Each county must demonstrate they have adequate local hospital bed capacity as well as adequate PPE supplies to keep health care workers safe. The application must include plans for: • Making testing available and accessible to everyone in the county with symptoms. • Staffing case investigations and contact tracing. • Housing people in isolation or quarantine who can't or don't want to do so at home. • Providing case management services to those in isolation and quarantine. • Responding rapidly to outbreaks in congregate settings. 31 INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 2 The variance requests are reviewed by the secretary of health, who can approve the plans as submitted, approve with modifications or deny the application. If circumstances change within the jurisdiction, the variance can be revoked. When a county moves into Phase 2, businesses that reopen must follow State Guidance on safety procedures for their industry. A list of the Guidance documents is attached. Statewide, essential businesses continue to be open. Non -essential businesses that may re- open during Phase 1 include: landscaping and lawn care, vehicle sales, pet -walking, car washes, and curb -side retail. In Tukwila, currently many retail and related businesses are closed or just selling curbside retail. Stores selling essential items such as groceries, pharmaceuticals, and electronics (Costco, Target, Seafood City, Saar's Supersaver, Bartells, Walgreens, Best Buy, Video Only, etc.) are open. Westfield Southcenter mall is closed but some of its stores are selling curbside retail. Restaurants are only open for pick-up and delivery. Admissions and gambling based businesses are closed. Tukwila has some other essential businesses that are open such as in logistics or food production, but many are operating at reduced levels. DISCUSSION One of the key questions is when will King County be ready and allowed to move into Phase 2. Among other criteria, in order to get a variance to move into Phase 2 ahead of the whole State, King County would need to average fewer than 10 new cases during a two -week period. During the two -week period of May 3 through 17, King County had 39 cases per 100,000 residents. According to the King County Health Department website as of May 27, there should be enough testing capacity for anyone in the County who has symptoms and anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has symptoms to get tested. Depending on how successful we are with isolation, contact tracing, and quarantining the risk of spread may continue to decline. Recently, the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) showed that a comprehensive program of increased testing, isolation of infected people, and contact tracing with quarantine of home and work contacts could prevent growth in the epidemic as King County gradually re- opens the economy (and relaxes some physical distancing measures) to approximately 75% of pre -pandemic level of public activities. See attached King County Public Health Insider report for more information. FINANCIAL IMPACT No budget changes are requested at this time. RECOMMENDATION Information and discussion only. ATTACHMENTS WA State Safe Start presentation WA State Reopening Guidance for Businesses and Workers King County Public Health Insider 32 https://tukwilawa.sharepoint.com/sites/mayorsoffice/cc/Council Agenda Items/Mayor's Office/PED 2020-6-1 Infomemo.doc Safe Start Washington Phased Approach to Recovery ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR I MAY4,2020 W Safe Start Washington Governor Jay Inslee Governor Jay Inslee, in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Health, has established a data -driven approach to reopen Washington and modify physical distancing measures while minimizing the health impacts of COVID-19. This approach reduces the risk of COVID-19 to Washington's most vulnerable populations and preserves capacity in our health care system, while safely opening up businesses and resuming gatherings, travel, shopping, and recreation. The plan involves assessing COVID-19 activity in the state along with health care system readiness, testing capacity and availability, case and contact investigations, and ability to protect high -risk populations. COVID-19 DISEASE ACTIVITY Before reopening Washington and modifying physical distancing measures, COVID-19 disease burden must be low and decreasing as measured by: LOW RISK HIGH RISK • Number and trend of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Washington State COVID-19 Disease Activity • Modeling data, including Institute for Disease Modeling on Puget Sound area rates of COVID-19 spread, University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation modeling, and Youyang Gu modeling • Mobility trends in Washington State, including WSDOT traffic data and Google Mobility Data READINESS AND CAPABILITIES NEEDED The Department of Health and local public health officials will monitor data to assess our state's readiness for safely reopening and modifying physical distancing measures. In addition to a low and decreasing disease burden, readiness must be achieved in four key areas to proceed from where we are now in the "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order (Phase 1) to Phase 11, III and IV of the plan. The four key areas include healthcare system readiness, testing capacity and availability, case and contact investigations, and ability to protect high -risk populations. The overall goals for each area, along with the pertinent data that will be considered, are detailed below. SAFE START WASHINGTON: A PHASED APPROACH TO RECOVERY W cyl 1. Health Care System Readiness Adequate bed capacity, staffing and supplies in the health care system to handle a surge in COVID-19 cases, / "AA& measured by: LOW RISK HIGH RISK Health Care System Readiness • Number and percentage of licensed beds and ICU beds available in hospitals • Number of available ventilators • Days of personal protective equipment (PPE) supply available at hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other health care settings • Ability of the state to fill high priority PPE requests from local emergency management agencies • Ability of hospitals and other health care facilities to surge and coordinate movement of patients 2. Testing Capacity and Availability Ability for everyone with COVID-19 symptoms and those with high -risk exposures to be tested immediately using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and rapidly receive test results as measured by: LOW RISK HIGH RISK Testing Capacity and Availability • Geographic distribution of testing sites and ability to serve the entire population • Number and capacity of laboratories in Washington performing COVID-19 testing • Availability of sufficient swabs, viral transport media, lab reagents, and other materials required for COVID-19 testing • Number of tests performed per day 3. Case and Contact Investigations Ability to rapidly isolate those with COVID-19, identify and quarantine their contacts, and provide case / "AA&& management services as measured by: LOW RISK HIGH RISK Case and Contact Investigations • Number of investigators trained and working • Plans for case management • Availability of isolation and quarantine facilities in local jurisdictions • Percent of cases investigated within 24 hours of receipt of positive test report • Percent of contact investigations initiated within 48 hours of receipt of positive test report SAFE START WASHINGTON: A PHASED APPROACH TO RECOVERY W 4. Ability to Protect High -Risk Populations Ability to immediately respond to outbreaks in congregate settings, such as long-term care facilities, / "AA& behavioral health facilities, agricultural worker housing, homeless shelters and correctional facilities, and LOW RISK HIGH RISK address the needs of other high -risk populations, including the elderly and the medically frail, measured by: Risk to Vulnerable Populations • Number of outbreaks in long-term care facilities • Demographic data, including race/ethnicity data, on COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths • Ability of local or state strike teams with adequate PPE to respond to an outbreak within 24 hours ALL INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES Until there is an effective vaccine, effective treatment or herd immunity, it is crucial to maintain some level of community interventions to suppress the spread of COVID-19 throughout all phases of recovery. This includes heightened protections for the health and safety of workers in essential sectors, people living and working in high -risk facilities (e.g., senior care facilities) and all other workers. All Washingtonians have a responsibility to protect themselves and others. Each phase, while allowing for additional services to open and return to full capacity, is grounded in the following required basic practices: Guidance for Individuals All phases — Individuals should continue to: • Engage in physical distancing, staying at least six feet away from other people • Wear cloth face coverings in public places when not eating or drinking (cloth face coverings should not be placed on children younger than 2 years of age, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance) • Stay home if sick • Avoid others who are sick • Wash hands frequently with soap and water (use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available) • Cover coughs and sneezes • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands • Disinfect surfaces and objects regularly SAFE START WASHINGTON: A PHASED APPROACH TO RECOVERY W Requirements for All Employers All phases - Employers are required to: • Maintain the six-foot physical distancing requirements for employees and patrons. Adopt other prevention measures such as barriers to block sneezes and coughs when physical distancing is not possible for a particular job task. • Provide services while limiting close interactions with patrons. • Provide adequate sanitation and personal hygiene for workers, vendors and patrons. Ensure employees have access to hand washing facilities so they can wash their hands frequently with soap and running water. • Ensure frequent cleaning and disinfection of the business, particularly of high -touch surfaces. • Identify personal protective equipment (PPE) and cloth facial coverings in accordance with L&I requirements on facial coverings and industry specific COVID-19 standards. Provide the necessary PPE and supplies to employees. • Identify strategies for addressing ill employees, which should include requiring COVID-19 positive employees to stay at home while infectious, and potentially restricting employees who were directly exposed to the COVID-19 positive employee. Follow CDC cleaning guidelines to deep clean after reports of an employee with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 illness. This may involve the closure of the business until the location can be properly disinfected. • Educate employees about COVID-19 in a language they best understand. The education should include the signs, symptoms and risk factors associated with COVID-19 and how to prevent its spread. • On a case -by -case basis, as directed by federal, state and local public health and workplace safety officials, implement other practices appropriate for specific types of businesses, such as screening of employees for illness and exposures upon work entry, requiring non -cash transactions, etc. • Follow requirements in Governor Inslee's Proclamation 20-46 High -Risk Employees - Workers' Rights. • Keep a safe and healthy facility in accordance with state and federal law, and comply with COVID-19 worksite-specific safety practices, as outlined in Governor Inslee's "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" Proclamation 20-25, and in accordance with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries General Coronavirus Prevention Under Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order and the Washington State Department of Health Workplace and Employer Resources & Recommendations. • Challenge Seattle and the Washington Roundtable have developed a business checklist which is a great starting point for businesses as they prepare for a Safe Start. Our shared goal is to establish clear requirements that everyone can understand and apply — employers, workers and customers. Businesses are also expected to implement any additional requirements developed specifically for their industry, such as those that have been established for construction. SAFE START WASHINGTON: A PHASED APPROACH TO RECOVERY PHASED APPROACH TO REOPENING WASHINGTON AND MODIFYING PHYSICAL DISTANCING MEASURES Phase I of reopening Washington begins on May 5, 2020. When COVID-19 disease burden is low and decreasing and the four above capabilities are met, the Governor will issue an order for the state to move into future phases. The state will stay in every phase for a minimum of three weeks. During that time, the Department of Health and the Governor will re-evaluate the above indicators and determine if the state should remain in the current phase, advance to the next phase or return to the previous phase. No phase will last less than three weeks before moving to the next phase, in order to allow one complete disease incubation period plus an additional week to compile complete data and confirm trends. The following table shows the phased approach for reopening businesses and resuming activities not authorized under Proclamation 20-25. This phased approach may be adjusted as the pandemic evolves. The industries listed are not an exclusive or exhaustive list of industries. Businesses listed in each phase of the plan will have industry -specific guidance and safety criteria developed to ensure workplace safety and public health are maintained. Those business activities are not authorized to open until the industry -specific guidance and safety criteria are issued. A number of different factors were considered when deciding which activities could be resumed and which businesses could be reopened in various phases. These factors included: • Risk of disease spread during the individual or business activity • Number of people who could potentially be infected during the individual or business activity • Economic benefits to opening the business • Individual benefits to opening the business Additional plans for a phased approach to restarting health care and educational activities are under development. Families are adjusting to a new way of life, and we understand the impacts this is having on them. The connection between education, childcare, youth sports, summer programs and extracurricular activities is critical and must be viewed from a holistic lens to ensure equity and high quality of life. As we prepare for what the reopening of school looks like, we will be working closely with the Department of Health, Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction, Department of Children, Youth and Families, and parents to release plans in the future. While childcare is currently an essential business activity and a key component to the reopening plan, we know there is more to do. The state will continue efforts to ensure adequate access and affordability for families. SAFE START WASHINGTON: A PHASED APPROACH TO RECOVERY WASHINGTON'S PHASED APPROACH Modifying Physical Distancing Measures as we Reopen the State High -Risk Populations* Recreation INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES SHOULD FOLLOW ALL REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE DURING ALL PHASES Phase 1 Continue to Stay Home, Stay Healthy Some outdoor recreation (hunting, fishing, golf, boating, hiking) Phase 2 Continue to Stay Home, Stay Healthy Outdoor recreation involving fewer than 5 people outside your household (camping, beaches, etc.) Phase 3 Continue to Stay Home, Stay Healthy Outdoor group recreational sports activities (5-50 people) Recreational facilities at <50% capacity (gyms, public pools, etc.) Professional sports without audience participation (horseracing, baseball, etc.) Gatherings None g Drive-in spiritual service with Gather with no more than 5 people Allow gatherings with no more than (social, spiritual) one household per vehicle outside your household per week 50 people Essential travel and limited non -essential Essential travel and limited non -essential Travel travel for Phase I permissible activities travel for Phase I & II permissible activities Resume non -essential travel Essential businesses open Existing construction that meets agreed upon criteria Landscaping Auto/RV/Boat/ORV sales Business/ Retail (curb -side pick-up orders only) Car washes Employers Pet walkers Remaining manufacturing Additional construction phases In-home/domestic services (nannies, housecleaning, etc.) Retail (in-store purchases allowed with restrictions) Real estate Professional services/office-based businesses (telework remains strongly encouraged) Hair and nail salons/barbers Pet grooming Restaurants <50% capacity table size no larger than 5 Restaurants/taverns <75%capacity/ table size no larger than 10 Bar areas in restuarant/taverns at <25% capacity Movie theaters at <50% capacity Customer -facing government services (telework remains strongly encouraged) Libraries Museums All other business activities not yet listed except for nightclubs and events with greater than 50 people Phase 4 Resume public interactions, with physical distancing Resume all recreational activity Allow gatherings with >50 people Continue non -essential travel Nightclubs Concert venues Large sporting events Resume unrestricted staffing of worksites, but continue to practice physical distancing and good hygiene * High -risk populations are currently defined by CDC as: persons 65 years of age and older; people of all ages with underlying medial conditions (particularly not well controlled), including people with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma, people who have serious heart conditions, people who are immunocompromised, people with severe obesity, people with diabetes, people with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis, and people with liver disease; people who live in a nursing home or long-term carefacility. W 6 SAFE START WASHINGTON: A PHASED APPROACH TO RECOVERY R COUNTY VARIANCE REQUESTS The Department of Health recognizes that there are currently some small counties with a population of less than 75,000 that have not identified a resident with COVID-19 for the past three weeks. These counties have the opportunity to apply for a variance to move to Phase II of this plan before the rest of the state. To apply for a variance, the local jurisdiction must follow the below process and submit the following materials to the Department of Health. County variance applications will be approved or denied by the Secretary of Health. 1. The process must adhere to the following steps: The local public health officer must submit a signed recommendation to the local board of health with one of the following recommendations: not request a variance and stay in Phase I, request a variance to include all of the Phase II modifications above, or request a variance to include a subset of Phase II modifications. b. The local board of health, if they choose to move forward with a variance request, must vote on such a request. c. The local hospital(s) must submit a letter certifying that they have adequate bed capacity to serve their community and adequate PPE supplies to keep their workers safe. d. The county commission/council must request to move to Phase II (or a subset of Phase II) of the plan. 2. The county commissioner must submit a letter requesting a variance, the letter from the local hospital certifying they have adequate bed capacity to serve their community and adequate PPE supplies to keep their workers safe, and a document that includes the following information to the Department of Health: a. Plans to make COVID-19 testing available and accessible to everyone in the county with symptoms consistent with COVID-19. b. The number of tests performed by week over the past three weeks. c. The number of people trained and ready to perform case investigations and contact tracing. d. Plans to house people in isolation or quarantine who do not have a home or wish to isolate or quarantine themselves outside of their home. e. Plans to provide case management services to cases and contacts in isolation and quarantine. f. Plans to rapidly respond to outbreaks in congregate settings. SAFE START WASHINGTON: A PHASED APPROACH TO RECOVERY Included with this application are documents demonstrating approvals and endorsements for all of the following: a. The local public health officers' recommendation to the Board of Health. b. Documentation of the vote of the Board of Health, including the motion and the vote totals. c. Letters from all hospitals used by the county certifying their bed capacity for COVID-19 patients and PPE supplies. d. Documentation of the vote of the county commission, including the vote totals. In the next two weeks, the Department of Health and Governor Inslee will consider additional criteria which could include cases per capita for allowing other counties to apply for a variance. Local jurisdictions will be allowed to partially implement a phase. 8 SAFE START WASHINGTON: A PHASED APPROACH TO RECOVERY 42 43 m 45 m 47 oes 0 Feeling sick? Get tested for COVID49. 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