News Flash

Cowlitz County’s Phase II variance application has been approved and is effective immediately. Please
refer to the link below to view the letter from State Secretary of Health John Wiesman, Dr PH, MPH. An individual
business eligible for re-opening is only allowed to re-open after it can implement the state guidelines for a
safe start. The guidelines can be accessed at: https://coronavirus.wa.gov/what-you-need-know/safe-start 

Variance for Cowlitz County into Phase II. Click Link. 

“We are pleased that the Washington Department of Health and Secretary of Health Dr. John Wiesman
approved the application for Cowlitz County to move into Phase II” said Cowlitz Health Officer Dr. Steven
Krager. “I think this recognizes the great work done by the county in both responding to this unprecedented
pandemic and in preparing a comprehensive variance application. The application reflects all the hard work
and preparation we have done to feel confident that we are entering Phase 2 safely” stated Dr. Krager.

It should be stressed that all Cowlitz County residents should continue to make choices that keep the
community safe-- get tested as soon as possible if you feel ill, keep your distance as much as possible from
those outside your household, wear cloth masks in indoor public places, and wash your hands. In general
people should stay home as much as possible, especially if you are 60 or over or have an underlying
medical condition like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes or a weakened immune system. 

Public health will continue to aggressively monitor this outbreak and respond quickly to any new COVID-
19 cases. Health officials are watching carefully for any possible increase in cases as people do more
activities and return to work. Businesses able to meet re-opening requirement are reminded that
Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries Division of Occupational Safety and Health monitors and
ensures compliance with phased re-opening restrictions.

On the Governor’s website, there is individual guidance for further clarification on each category found at
https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/news/news-release-archive. If you have questions about if your
business is essential or if you want to seek further inquiries about essential business you can use the State
of Washington site at https://coronavirus.wa.gov/what-you-need-know/whats-open-and-closed/essential-business . Cowlitz County Health and Human Services and the Incident Management Team will continue to
provide local updates on the Cowlitz COVID-19 coronavirus webpage at www.cowlitzcovid19.com