Inslee Lifts Capacity Cap For Some Washington Cooling Centers

OLYMPIA, WA — As Puget Sound braces for some of the highest temperatures ever recorded, Gov. Jay Inslee has lifted pandemic-related capacity limits for certain cooling centers. The historic heat streak arrives just a few days before Washington is set to reopen, lifting many of its remaining COVID-19 prevention measures. Without the governor's intervention Friday, cooling centers would have been subject to the same capacity limits as other venues, reducing how many people could escape from the dangerous afternoon temperatures forecast through Monday.

"Beginning today, and persisting well into next week, meteorologists predict that temperatures will rise rapidly throughout the Pacific Northwest," Inslee said Friday. "Consequently, Washingtonians will be at high to very high risk of heat-related effects. In response, many local governments are mobilizing 'cooling centers' to protect people from the weather. I want to ensure that local jurisdictions have flexibility in options that can provide relief from the heat."

The governor's updated order applies only to publicly-owned or operated cooling centers and non-profits, allowing staff to adjust or remove their capacity ceiling.

Inslee's office writes:

"Eligible cooling centers are those created, administered or designated by a non-profit, state or local government entity; e.g., a state agency, city, county or other political subdivision, or an entity incorporated under the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act or analogous law from another jurisdiction, to temporarily address the health effects of a heat wave."

Private, for-profit businesses, like malls or movie theaters, that offer air-conditioned spaces to the public will still need to adhere to existing capacity restrictions. Most of those limits will be removed by June 30, Washington's reopening date, unless the state can hit its 70 percent vaccination target a day or two early.

Find recent coverage on cooling centers across the region:

• Where To Cool Off In Kirkland During The Heat Wave
• Seattle Opens More Cooling Centers, Emergency Heat Shelters
• Cooling Centers Open This Weekend In Sammamish And Issaquah
• Pierce County To Open Cooling Centers For Hot Weekend