Support The Wire

WASHINGTON STATE Wire

Policy

Inslee rescinds three proclamations ahead of June 30 reopening

Ian Portmann   June 22, 2021  

On Monday, Gov. Jay Inslee rescinded three separate proclamations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three proclamations being rescinded include:

Proclamation 20-30 which suspended job search requirements for those who were seeking Unemployment Insurance (UI). This amendment will be rescinded and go into effect on July 4, 2021. 

Proclamation 20-46 is being replaced by Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 5115 and will go into effect immediately. Proclamation 20-46 provided protection for high-risk workers, ESSB 5115 will implement a new law protecting high-risk employees in the event of a declared public health emergency. This law is also known as the Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA). The rescission of Proclamation 20-46 goes into effect June 28, 2021, HELSA/ESSB 5115 will be implemented immediately. 

Proclamation 20-76 was put in place to limit fees third-party delivery services could charge restaurants to deliver food to consumers. This rescission goes into effect immediately. 

Inslee has stated the state will reopen if 70% of the population age 16 and older receive at least one dose of a COVID vaccine.

Inslee stated in a public address last week:

“Many people, myself included, are eager for our state to fully reopen. I have said repeatedly we are going to do this on June 30 or when we hit 70% of people 16 and up initiating vaccinations – whichever happens first. We use age 16 and up as that population was eligible when we made the announcement.”

Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reports around 67.8% of the population 16 and older have received their first dose of a COVID vaccine.

In the closing of Inslee’s proclamation, he states Washingtonians can expect more proclamations to be rescinded in the coming days, prior to Washington’s scheduled reopening.

Your support matters.

Public service journalism is important today as ever. If you get something from our coverage, please consider making a donation to support our work. Thanks for reading our stuff.