In This Issue....
Thurston County Moves to
Phase 3 of the Safe Start Plan
Commissioners Extend Local Emergency Declaration
Emergency Management Distributes Masks
But first....
Thurston County was approved to move to Phase 3 of the Safe Start Plan by the Washington State Department of Health on Wednesday, June 24. Starting Monday, June 29, Thurston County facilities will re-open to the public with restrictions, including maintaining physical distancing of at least six feet at all times and, per the Washington State Secretary of Health’s face covering order, wearing a cloth face covering or mask. If you come to county facilities, please be prepared for potentially long wait times or lines due to distancing guidelines. We continue to encourage residents to access county services remotely. The availability of remote services vary by office and department.
1
COVID-19 Update
From Friday, June 19, to Thursday, June 25, Thurston County Public Health and Social Services confirmed 25 additional Thurston County residents were diagnosed with COVID-19. This brings the total of confirmed cases in the county to 230. There have been 32 hospitalizations (number is of accumulated hospitalizations, not all currently hospitalized), and 212 recovered or recovering. You can find more data on COVID-19 in Thurston County at: https://bit.ly/ThurstonCOVID19Data .

The highest number of COVID-19 cases in Thurston County are in the 98512, 98513, and 98503 zip codes. You can learn more in the latest COVID-19 weekly update at: https://bit.ly/2B1HnIL . Thurston County Health Officer, Dr. Diana Yu, also issued a Letter to the Community on Tuesday, June 23. You can read her letter at: https://bit.ly/2BCVzHW .
2
Fireworks in Unincorporated Thurston County
Fireworks will be allowed in unincorporated Thurston County this Fourth of July. Fireworks sales in unincorporated Thurston County begin Sunday, June 28, at 12 p.m. and end Saturday, July 4, at 11 p.m. The discharge of fireworks in unincorporated Thurston County is allowed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Residents are urged to be very careful with fireworks. You can find fireworks safety tips and more at: https://bit.ly/31eDwTm .
3
Commissioners Extend Emergency Resolution

On Tuesday, June 22, the Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to extend the resolution declaring the COVID-19 pandemic a local emergency in Thurston County through midnight on Saturday, October 31, 2020. The declaration allows the county, by state law, to undertake emergency purchases and activates the Thurston County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.

The declaration authorizes county departments and offices to enter into contracts and incur obligations necessary to combat the emergency and protect the health and safety of persons, property, the environment, and provide emergency assistance to the victims of the emergency. You can find the resolution at: https://bit.ly/2Nxqmst .
4
Board of County Commissioners Meetings
Resume Next Week
Starting Tuesday, June 30, the public may attend Board of County Commissioners meetings in person. The public will have an opportunity to provide public testimony to the Board during the regularly scheduled 2 p.m. meeting in Building One, Room 280 of the Thurston County Courthouse Complex at 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, in Olympia. 

Due to COVID-19 and the need for physical distancing, capacity in Room 280 is limited. An overflow room has been designated where residents may still participate. All Board of County Commissioners meetings and work sessions will continue to be live-streamed on the county's YouTube channel at: https://bit.ly/2VgplJr .
5
Emergency Management Distributes Masks for
Low Income Individuals and Families
On Wednesday, June 24, Thurston County Emergency Management (TCEM) provided masks to all Thurston County Food Bank locations. TCEM is distributing close to 128,500 cloth masks to local organizations to aid in the distribution to local families and individuals that fall below the 200% federal poverty level.

The mask distribution, directed by the Governor’s Office through the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), is intended to help protect low income families and individuals, and to help slow the spread of COVID-19. You can find information about the organizations TCEM is distributing masks to at: https://bit.ly/2BBUfoI .
Before you go....
On Wednesday, June 24, the Yelm-Tenino Trail crossing over the Deschutes River - parallel to Washington State Route 507 in South Thurston County - closed for the summer. Old pilings underneath the crossing are degrading and need to be replaced. Work is expected to last though September 2020. You can learn more about this project, including funding information, at: https://bit.ly/2UVUxxD.
On Tuesday, June 23, the Washington State Department of Health issued a statewide public health order requiring the wearing of a facial covering in public. You can read details about the order at: https://bit.ly/2VbT9XL.