Greetings members of the Washougal Community. I hope this message finds you and your family well and coping with the changes we are all experiencing as our community responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. As you know, the situation regarding our national and state response to COVID-19 is rapidly evolving.
Yesterday, Governor Inslee issued a proclamation for all of us to “Stay Home, Stay Healthy.” A link to his proclamation is included at the end of this message. I encourage you to review his proclamation for details about the restrictions, which are in place until April 6 (for staying home) and April 8 (for businesses). His order requires all of us to stay home, except for certain activities. These enhanced strategies are designed to further mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak.
Grocery stores, pharmacies and businesses that provide the things we all need at home will remain open under the Governor’s new 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.
In response, the City of Washougal is taking additional 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, or when, COVID-19 will evolve in our region and what the response will be if a more serious outbreak does occur here.
To comply with these new 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 April 30, 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.
Effective immediately and through April 8, 2020, consistent with the Governor’s proclamation, the City will implement a series of additional changes in operations and services as further preventative measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 among our employees and the community. Of particular note is the closure of most of our parks facilities. Please see the link below for specific information about parks facilities closures. We have also moved our City Council meetings to a virtual platform. Upcoming City Council meetings can be accessed by visiting https://www.cityofwashougal.us/129/Agendas-Minutes.
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 see the document linked below for information about how you can access City services. We will continue to evaluate this situation as events unfold.
The City continues to closely monitor the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and implement appropriate actions in response to this rapidly changing issue. 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. These closures and operational measures are consistent with actions being taken by other cities in Clark County.
The risk of exposure is increasing for people who live in our region. Health agency experts, including the World Health Organization, recommend social distancing measures be deployed to contain the spread in communities, not to specifically prevent illness, but rather to slow down the rate at which people get sick. The Governor’s new restrictions and our facilities closures and protocols further our collective efforts in this regard.
The situation continues to change rapidly, and our response will continue to evolve and change accordingly. We will share additional information and updates as they are available. In the meantime, information on the state and regional response can be found on the following websites:
These new 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