Submitted by Washington State Governor
Gov. Jay Inslee today removed COVID-related capacity limits at publicly owned or operated, and non-profit cooling centers.
“Beginning today, and persisting well into next week, meteorologists predict that temperatures will rise rapidly throughout the Pacific Northwest. Consequently, Washingtonians will be at high to very high risk of heat-related effects. In response, many local governments are mobilizing “cooling centers” to protect people from the weather,” Inslee said. “I want to ensure that local jurisdictions have flexibility in options that can provide relief from the heat.”
The governor’s emergency proclamations 20-05 and 20-25.13, “Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery,” remain in effect and have capacity limitations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This order allows capacity limitations to be adjusted or removed in order to provide the ability to serve more people at publicly owned or operated, and non-profit cooling centers.
Eligible cooling centers are those created, administered or designated by a non-profit, state or local government entity; e.g., a state agency, city, county or other political subdivision, or an entity incorporated under the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act or analogous law from another jurisdiction, to temporarily address the health effects of a heat wave.
The suspension of capacity limitations does not apply to private, for-profit businesses that offer air-conditioned spaces to the general public.
All other aspects of the governor’s COVID restrictions remain in effect until Wednesday, June 30 or whenever 70 percent of the population initiates vaccination, whichever comes first.
Find the full memo here.
