Don't overrun counties that reopen

By now, everyone in the state knows that there are a few counties that are being allowed to open their economies before others. Theses counties are even being allowed to open restaurant dining rooms—albeit to reduced seating.

The handful of counties being allowed to open have populations of under 75,000 and none have had any new cases of COVID-19 in at least three weeks. In other words, they are “low risk.”

Let’s keep it that way.

Most of the counties opening up are on the east side of the state. People here have argued that there is a big difference between Seattle in western Washington and the rural communities to the east.

People here have argued that there is a big difference between Seattle in western Washington and the rural communities to the east. It has been argued that these smaller counties should not remain shut because of what is happening in Seattle.

There is a lot of truth to this argument. If people aren’t getting sick here, why must we remain closed because people are getting sick in Seattle?

However, if people from Seattle and other COVID hotbeds overrun our rural communities once we open, we’ll be in the same boat they are. So please, if you aren’t from one of the counties opening up, don’t run to the counties who are.

Lincoln County is one such county that is opening up. For people living in nearby Spokane County and other larger counties in the state, it may be tempting to rush the cities and towns in smaller counties and visit their restaurants and stores. But there is a reason these counties have so few COVID-19 cases: their contact with outsiders is limited.

If everyone rushes these counties, this will change, and illnesses will rise in rural areas.

Lincoln County Health Administrator Ed Dzedzy said this is a concern.

“Part of what needs to be kept in mind is even though we are at Phase 2, we are still only allowed limited non-essential travel,” Dzedzy said. “So, if someone from Seattle wants to travel here, that still isn’t allowed under this Phase 2 approach.”

— Jeremy Burnham is the editor of the Davenport Times. Email him at davenporttimes@centurytel.net.