Inslee Hints at Summer Restriction Lift

Governor Jay Inslee defended his administration's handling of the pandemic while also providing a possible preview of things to come during Tuesday's press conference.

Inslee said he's made the right decisions so far and a lot of people are happy he's made those changes.

"With the approach to this pandemic, this is no real playbook to COVID, it's brand new. Nothing was written on the tablets. We are making very difficult decisions based on the best science we have. They are all subject to criticism, I understand that, but the proof is in the pudding."

According to the CDC, Washington has the 7th-lowest COVID-19 death rate in the nation and the 5th-best case rate. Inslee claims the state's approach has saved the lives of 15,000 to 17,000 more Washingtonians when compared to the worst-performing states like New Jersey and Massachusetts.

Inslee added that more control over pandemic restrictions could be given to local health officials by the summer if the population is vaccinated enough to where they can have confidence a major outbreak couldn't occur. He doesn't think it's a good idea for the state to relinquish any type of authority to local health officials just yet, saying the state has a "moral force" that makes compliance easier.