As coronavirus cases spike in the Spokane area, Mayor Nadine Woodward and county commissioners are holding off on their push to move into the next phase of Washington state's reopening plan.
The Spokane County Board of Commissioners sent a letter to health officer Dr. Bob Lutz on Wednesday, June 17, asking him to take “immediate action” in beginning the process of applying for Phase 3. Lutz and other health leaders have said they will not support moving ahead in reopening until Spokane County's numbers improve.
The Spokane Regional Health District reported 81 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday alone, the largest single-day increase since the pandemic began. On Monday, health officials also reported the first coronavirus death of a Spokane County resident in their 30s.
“I go into July Fourth with some trepidation given that our numbers have exploded since Memorial Day," Spokane County Health Officer Dr. Bob Lutz said on Monday.