County health board upset with governor’s 'Roadmap to Recovery' plan

Whatcom County Council, acting in their role as the health board, had harsh words for governor Jay Inslee regarding the pandemic recovery rules for small counties. Chair Barry Buchanan wrote, “We represent Whatcom County and wish to express our frustration and deep concern about the Roadmap to Recovery plan.”

In the letter dated February 2, Buchanan noted that county businesses and residents had been “suspended in limbo” since early June despite the fact that for the most part the county had not experienced high case rates and had successfully managed the medical needs of Covid-19 patients.

In particular, Buchanan objected to the fact that counties with far higher case rates were being allowed to re-open while the north region of which the county is part of had lower rates and wasn’t allowed the same consideration. “How is it fair or equitable that San Juan County, with a two-week case rate of 64/100,000 has businesses shuttered, but King County, with a two-week case rate of 300/100,000 is re-opening?”

Buchanan did not address how the board’s complaint pertained to Whatcom County given that currently, Whatcom County has a two-week case rate of 407/100,000. “The new metrics cannot be justified with science, risk or equity,” Buchanan continued. “We insist on a re-opening strategy that considers case rates, not just decreases, that doesn’t artificially tie diverse counties into a failed regional approach, and that moves more quickly to safely re-open businesses. … It’s time to let counties with low case rates join in the Phase 2 reopening,” he concluded.

The letter sparked a blast by Dr. Frank James, a well-known Bellingham physician. “This is what happens when the ‘Board of Health’ is composed entirely of politicians and no medical expertise,” James posted on Facebook. “The policies they are pursuing are irresponsible and literally people are going to die as a result of this type of action. Please reach out to them and tell them to take this seriously and stop the very backward actions they are taking which will make it worse,” James exhorted readers.