Washington Governor Jay Inslee plans to extend his state’s stay-home order through May 31, while, at the same time, exploring options to allow certain businesses to reopen prior to that date as part of a four-phased plan unveiled on Friday. The initial stage would see Washington’s economy and social life start to reopen including certain types of businesses that could reopen in mid-May, though the stay-home order remains until the end of the month.

Gov. Inslee said in response to pressure to lift the stay-at-home order sooner, “If we stick together for a while longer, we won’t lose all the gains we’ve already made. It’s so frustrating, we don’t want to do this twice.”

Businesses that could open first include retail stores that are able to offer curbside pickup, as well as automobile sales and car washes, with some restrictions. The governor also intends to allow drive-in religious services with one household per vehicle. Inslee indicated, beginning this week, additional outdoor activities will be allowed, but the ban on large gatherings remains in place.

The phases each span at least three weeks, which is expected to provide government and health officials enough time to make sure the plan is working. Counties that haven’t been as hard hit by the COVID-19 virus could request to begin reopening at a faster rate, though they must meet certain criteria.

The second phase would allow for the opening of hair salons and barbershops, and restaurants to 50% capacity and tables of no more than five people. New construction could commence, and some in-store retail shopping could resume, too. Additional outdoor and social activities will be allowed to resume, including camping and gatherings of five or fewer people.

Under Gov. Inslee’s third phase, gatherings of 50 people or fewer, as well as the resumption of indoor sports activities and non-essential travel, would be allowed. The final fourth phase would allow most public interactions to resume, though social distancing measures would still likely be necessary.

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