The CDHD (Chelan-Douglas County Heath District) Board of Health held a special meeting on Tuesday, May 26, to discuss the following agenda items.
- Discussion and possible action requesting the Governor to permit additional businesses to open;
- Executive session pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) to discuss potential litigation with District legal counsel; and
- Discuss Health District enforcement policy and possible action
Barry Kling, Director of the CDHD, opened the meeting saying it wasn’t clear of the District was going to submit a second proposal to the State for reopening the two counties. “I take it we are not going to do a second application for opening,” he said.
Commissioner Kevin Overbay said, “At this time we are not prepared to look at moving forward. The thing that has me troubled is the 10 (cases) per 100,000 people. We need to do a little more work to with Barry and Dr. Butler the first part of next week to look at other options.” Overbay stated that he wasn’t ready to move away from the Board’s Phase 1.5 proposal.
It was reported that there were more positive cases last week than the week before.
The board moved into an executive session and came back to the meeting an hour later with a resolution 2020-04. “We are very supportive of the staff work being done and guided where we want to go with enforcement of the Governor’s orders.” said Overbay. “This is a good document moving forward.
Following is the Resolution 2020-4 which was approved unanimously by the board.
RESOLUTION 202-004 OF THE CHELAN-DOUGLAS HEALTH DISTRICT
BOARD OF HEALTH REGARDING SAFE REOPENING
DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Whereas the Chelan-Douglas County Health District Board of Health is aware of legal challenges to the orders issued by the Governor in response of the COVID-19 pandemic; and,
Whereas the time has come for gradual re-opening of activities limited by the Governor’s orders, but a sudden and disorderly re-opening of such activities could produce unnecessary health risks during the pandemic; and,
Whereas businesses and organizations wishing to resume more normal operations must do so gradually and must take care to implement social distancing and other safeguards so long as the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be controlled through effective vaccines and/or medications;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Chelan-Douglas Health District Board of Health adopts the following policies:
Section 1: The primary role of Chelan-Douglas Health District regarding re-opening is to work with our communities to assure that COVID-19 prevention measures are implemented effectively to the extent possible during the process of re-opening.
Section 2: Chelan-Douglas Health District will continue to emphasize education and partnership with local businesses, organizations and families over enforcement wherever possible.
Section 3: In the event that the Governor’s orders regarding COVID-10 are rendered invalid, Chelan-Douglas Health District will implement an orderly phased re-opening process using stages comparable to those in the Governor’s Safe Start Washington plans of May 4, 2020.
Section 4: When enforcement actions are needed to achieve safe re-opening, after appropriate consultation and warnings are given, the enforcement procedures of the Chelan-Douglas Health Sanitary Code will be used in connection with any applicable orders issued under the statutory authority of the Chelan-Douglas Health Officer.
Section 5: So long as the Governor’s orders are in effect, Health District staff who observe violations of the orders shall document and report such violations to State of Washington officials, who may then take such measures as they consider necessary.
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