Greetings members of the Washougal Community. I’d like to provide you with an update on the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation as it relates to the Washougal community.
Yesterday, Governor Inslee issued a necessary extension of the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order. A link to his new proclamation can be found at the City’s dedicated COVID-19 information page at https://cityofwashougal.us/COVID19. I encourage you to review his proclamation for details about the restrictions, which are now in place until May 4. His order requires all of us to continue to stay home, except for certain activities. These enhanced strategies are designed to further mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak.
We realize the extension of this order presents new challenges to our residents. This unprecedented situation is impacting our community. To help ensure the community has access to resources that can help, the City of Washougal has posted information related to education and childcare; housing and meal assistance; reporting business violations; relief for businesses, homeowners and individuals and unemployment benefits. Visit the City’s page for this information at https://cityofwashougal.us/COVID19.
According to Governor Inslee, we have yet to see the full weight of this virus. The City of Washougal strongly urges all residents to comply with the Governor’s order for residents to stay at home in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. It is critical that we all do our part to minimize the spread of the virus by reducing non-essential travel and contact with others and maintain social distancing.
As a reminder, grocery stores, pharmacies and businesses that provide the things we all need at home will still remain open under the Governor’s revised emergency proclamation. We echo his call for all of us to not hoard household supplies and food. He is encouraging all of us to be conscientious of the broader community with our shopping for supplies and food.
As part of our ongoing response, the City of Washougal continues to take steps to contain the spread of COVID-19. We understand that these enhanced strategies to “flatten the curve” of this outbreak are impactful to our community, and we continue to empathize with the continuing and growing anxiety and uncertainty of how COVID-19 will evolve in our region and what the response will be.
To comply with these measures and to limit the potential for additional COVID-19 exposure to our city personnel, customers and community, all City facilities will continue be closed to the public through May 4, 2020. This timeframe may be extended or shortened depending upon how the COVID-19 situation unfolds. This measure to increase social distancing practices has been taken in response to ongoing guidance from health officials regarding the necessary actions to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Still effective now and through May 4, 2020, consistent with the Governor’s extension proclamation, the City will keep in place the series of changes in operations and services as further preventative measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 among our employees and the community that were implemented March 24, 2020. Information about closures can be found at https://cityofwashougal.us/COVID19.
We have also moved our City Council meetings to a virtual platform. Information on how to access the April 13 Council meeting will be released soon.
The City is still open for business during this closure, but with limits and protocols in place consistent with guidance for appropriate social distancing. Please visit https://cityofwashougal.us/COVID19 for information about how you can access City services.
The situation continues to change rapidly, and our response will continue to evolve and change accordingly. We are following the lead and guidance of Governor Inslee and Clark County Public Health, and we are working alongside Clark County Public Health and CRESA (Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency) and surrounding partner municipalities to implement coordinated response and communication. We will share additional information and updates as they are available. In the meantime, information on the state and regional response can be found at our website https://cityofwashougal.us/COVID19 or the Clark County website https://www.clark.wa.gov/covid19.
These measures ordered by the Governor and implemented by Washougal and cities across Clark County are impactful but are necessary to stop the spread of COVID-19. We encourage everyone to “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” and consistently practice the hygienic and social distancing measures recommended by Clark County Public Health and the CDC. It is vitally important that we all stay informed, stay calm and work together to keep our community safe and healthy and reduce the spread of the virus in our region.
On behalf of the Mayor, Council and staff at the City, we extend our thanks to the Washougal community for rising to the occasion. We can all do our part to “flatten the curve” and get through and past this situation together.
Thank you for doing your part for our community.
Sincerely,
David Scott
City Manager