Yakima County officials are optimistic about Yakima staying in Phase-3 of the state's reopening plan this week. Governor Jay Inslee is expected to make an announcement on Tuesday on whether or not some counties in the state will have to move back to more restrictive measures because of rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. There's already news out that King County, the largest county in the state will likely be moved back to Phase-2 of the state's reopening plan. If the county is moved back to Phase-2 capacity at gyms, restaurants and retail outlets will go from the current 50% capacity to 25% capacity.
But Yakima County health officials says they're more optimistic this week then last week after updated numbers were released on Friday. The county must meet one of two metrics to say in Phase-3.
Yakima Health District spokesperson Lilian Bravo says as of last Friday, Yakima County was at 227 cases per 100,000, the threshold to meet the metric is 200 cases per 100,000. The other metric is hospitalizations. Last Friday the county was at 4.6 COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,00, the threshold is 5.0 COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000. So if that number stays at 4.6 then Yakima will be able to stay in Phase-3. The governor is expected to make an announcement on Tuesday.

Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney has been working closely with state and local government officials anticipating the announcement from the governor. McKinney says the numbers show that Yakima is within the at least one of the metrics needed to stay in Phase-3. Don't miss our conversation with Commissioner McKinney at 7:15 a.m. Tuesday morning on KIT.

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