Live entertainment banned statewide starting July 20 in new Covid-19 restriction

New modifications that will increase the stringency of Washington state’s Safe Start plan went into effect today, July 20, as Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the state.

Indoor and outdoor live entertainment is now banned throughout the state, governor Jay Inslee announced in a July 16 news conference. This includes drive-in concerts, comedy clubs and music in restaurants, but excludes weddings, funerals and spiritual services.

Inslee also reduced the size of social gatherings allowed in phase 3. Now, counties in phase 3 must limit social gatherings to no more than 10 people. Previously, gatherings of up to 50 were allowed in phase 3.

Counties on phase 2 and modified phase 1 plans, which is about 80 percent of the state, may continue to have social gatherings with up to five people. Face masks and physical distancing are still required for social gatherings, Inslee said.

During the conference, Inslee said he could possibly issue another stay-at-home order and alluded that it could happen soon if response to the pandemic didn’t improve.

State secretary of health John Wiesman announced July 20 that he would return all applications from counties that applied to advance phases. The state paused decisions on applications on July 2 and won't review new applications until at least July 28, according to the Washington state Covid-19 response website. The information from those applications will be outdated since at least four weeks will have passed since the applications were submitted for review, the release states.

As of July 18, Whatcom County had 780 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 37 deaths, according to the Washington State Department of Health. Washington has experienced 46,964 cases total and 1,447 deaths as of July 18, according to the department of health.

From January to March, young people represented 22 percent of Covid-19 cases but represented 45 percent of cases from May to June, Inslee said. As of July 18, the largest age group in Whatcom County with confirmed Covid-19 cases was 20-39 years old, making up 35 percent of all cases.