Inslee announces non-urgent medical, dental care can resume in Washington

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Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday announced Washington could begin the process of resuming non-urgent medical and dental care.

During a news conference Monday, Inslee said he was issuing a proclamation allowing for the reopening of healthcare services across the state.

"We know right now that this virus remains a threat to our health and our way of life, and we know that PPE and testing capability remain challenges, but we believe now that with appropriate safety measures, we can now start the process of getting back to non-urgent medical and dental care," Inslee said.

To reopen, health and dental providers will need to meet certain criteria to be able to do non-emergency procedures. One of the most important requirements includes having the appropriate personal protection equipment, Inslee said. He said it's "critical" providers use good judgment. Other protocols include implementing social distancing, screening people for symptoms of the virus and temperature checks.

Inslee also said the virus shouldn't deter people from getting the care they need.

He reiterated the state is far from in the clear, and encouraged people to continue following guidelines to keep people safe.

"Without a vaccine or widely available treatments," he said, "we still live in the era of COVID-19."

Earlier this year, non-emergency medical procedures were limited to make sure personal protection equipment was reserved for people on the frontlines of the pandemic.

The announcement comes as Inslee has been starting to ease restrictions over the past few weeks after announcing a phased approach to reopening the state.

Washington is currently in Phase 1, which includes fewer restrictions on outdoor recreation and the opening of some businesses, such as automobile sales and car washes. Gatherings are still banned, and people are required to continue following social distancing guidelines.

In Phase 2, restaurants can reopen at a limited capacity, along with hair and nail salons. Gatherings of fewer than five people are allowed. Phase 3 involves the opening of gyms, movie theaters and museums, along with increased capacity at restaurants. The third phase also allows gatherings of fewer than 50 to resume.

In Phase 4, people can resume much of the normal social interactions they have had before the pandemic.

Public health officials have cautioned against reopening the state too soon or too quickly, warning it could result in another surge in the number of cases and hospitalizations from the virus.

The Washington State Department of Health confirmed more than 1,000 people in Washington have died from the novel coronavirus.