Chelan Commissioner Provides Insight on ‘Safe Start’ Next Steps

Governor Jay Inslee put a two week halt on counties moving forward in the 'Safe Start' plan and almost simultaneously, Chelan Douglas Health District board made the call not to submit a Phase 2 proposal just quite yet.

According to Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay, once the two week period is complete and the numbers are where they need to be, the proposal is completed and ready to be handed off to the Secretary of Health.

"We don't know if we'd be looking at a modified Phase 2 or try to go right for the Phase 3," said Commissioner Overbay. "We need to have a little more dialogue with the governor's office."

In terms of where the numbers need to be for the submission, Overbay stated the board is looking at where the two counties are per 100,000 (roughly 50-75) and what numbers local healthcare providers are most comfortable at.

The board will likely to start dialogue with the governor's office in this next week to prepare for the 'Safe Start' pause to be lifted.