Washington's re-opening plan just got more flexible

Libraries, theaters, some youth sports and more will now have fewer restrictions in Washington state during certain stages of re-opening.

It’s part of Governor Inslee’s revised plan announced Tuesday as Washington looks towards the fall. It outlines what activities are possible while keeping coronavirus at bay.

"I’m really, really happy that we’re gonna have our kids go back and play soccer, go back and play softball, go back and run cross country, " said Governor Jay Inslee in a conference Tuesday afternoon.

"This is a really good day for our young people to get back to these healthy activities."

While high school football is not on that list, it’s a change from tougher restrictions that previously also limited things like weddings and real estate open houses.

Counties are still not allowed to move out of the phase they’re currently in but ultimately this does allow for more activity in each phase. King County is currently in Phase 2. As is Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap Counties.

A full list of the new guidelines can be viewed here.

Restaurants for example can now increase their table size to six people for counties in Phase 2. Alcohol cutoff is also now 11 p.m. (it was previously 10 p.m.). And for those in Phase 3, there is no restriction on the number of household members that can dine indoors.

Last month, however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that adults who tested positive for Covid-19 were about twice as likely to have dined at a restaurant within the past two weeks compared with those who tested negative.

But Inslee stressed indoor dining is not a large part of new infections.

"We found out restaurants were not totally abiding by this and not really enforcing it so we don't think there’s been much loss in Covid transmission and reduction," he said.

As for other new guidelines, here are some of the basics:

• Museums and libraries will allow some indoor activity in Phase 2 at 25% occupancy.
• Movie theaters: 25% occupancy in Phase 2; 50% occupancy in Phase 3 with 6 feet social distancing at all times required between different households. Face masks required when not eating or drinking.
• Outdoor Recreation: Now provides protocols for recreation with more than 12 people. This includes events like races, bicycle tours and rides, runs, cross country skiing races, biathlon’s, canoe and kayak races, marathons, cross country running, triathlons, and multi-sport competitions.
• Restaurants: Alcohol cutoff is now at 11 p.m. for Phase 2 and 3 (previously set at 10 p.m.). There is no longer a restriction on the number of household members that can dine together indoors.
• Retail events (like craft sales shows): Washington has not allowed or prohibited these events but new rules now allow for retail event shows to be capped at 200 people in Phase 3.
• Real estate: Open houses are allowed according to county’s gathering size limit.
• Water recreation facilities: By appointment only in modified Phase 1 and 2. Facilities are allowed to 50% occupancy under phase 3.
• Youth & adult sports: New guidelines now place sports into different risk categories and when those different categories can resume safely. Which sports can open back up depend on local metrics, considering the county and case numbers. There is more information coming on protocols for transportation, group size, and facial coverings.

For more information, the full list of Washington state's reopening guidelines is available here.