City of White Salmon News Release - Protecting Yourself and Others

The City of White Salmon would like to thank the White Salmon residents and businesses for continuing to work together in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. As we enter into a Phased approach to re-opening, the city will continue to follow all of the directives provided by Governor Inslee related to the COVID-19 pandemic and encourages its citizens and businesses to do the same.

We want to ensure our citizens and businesses that we take the directives seriously and hope that you will too. Our Bingen-White Salmon Police Department will continue to follow the standing orders and guidance, and our law enforcement approach to any of the COVID-19 related restrictions within city limits will continue to be what has been recommended by the Governor. This means if individual(s) or a business are discovered to not be following the current restrictions, they will first be educated about what is and is not allowed, be warned if the activity is observed a second time, and finally issued the citation allowed under the order if they are known to not follow the order for a third time. Our Chief of Police is our primary law enforcement officer in the city, and he is responsible for enforcement of federal, state, and local laws, which is backed by our city code (WSMC 2.02.020).  

We are all adjusting to life in what is being called the “New Normal.” Every day brings a further understanding of the implications and serious nature of this disease. Although some have not been affected by the disease others have lost loved ones and friends. Until we have a successful vaccine, effective treatment, and an isolation plan we must maintain some level of community interventions to suppress the spread of COVID-19 throughout all phases of our recovery. This includes heightened protections for health and safety of ourselves, our loved ones, friends and our community.

Each phase of reopening will bring with it additional risks of exposure to each of us, which results in additional risk of exposure for our loved ones as well. In order to reduce those risks, we must each take responsibility for our own actions and take all precautions possible. Protections include the following:

• Engage in distancing of at least six feet
• Wear face coverings in public places
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Disinfect surfaces and objects regularly
• Avoid crowded locations, be flexible, go back when the crowd disperse
• Stay home if sick
• Avoid others who are sick

Information related to the Governor’s recently released “Safe Start Washington – A Phased Approach to Recovery” is available on the city’s webpage http://www.white-salmon.net. As clarifications from the Governor’s office become available, we will update the city’s webpage. We encourage citizens and businesses to subscribe to e-notifications (via the city’s webpage) so that you can be notified when new information is added.