The state of Washington will move all counties into the final Phase 3 of reopening starting May 18th with a plan to fully lift COVID-19 restrictions by June 30th, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday.

The restrictions on businesses and social gathering could be lifted even earlier, the governor said, if the state can reach 70% of eligible residents initiating the vaccination process. That total currently stands at a little more than 57% after just under five months since the vaccine distribution began. CORRECTION: We’ve updated the state total to accurately reflect the current estimate for percent of eligible population that has initiated the vaccine process. The percentage of the total state population beginning vaccination is 46%.

An end of June full reopening would mark a near 500 days from the first round of restrictions put in place across the state in March 2020.

In Seattle, wide vaccine availability continues with many clinics now no longer requiring appointments. Seattle moms and dads, meanwhile, have joined the lines with newly eligible 12 to 15-year-olds in tow. Meanwhile, the city’s mobile vaccination teams staffed by Seattle Fire personnel are holding clinics across the city using offers of discounted ice cream and beer to attract younger adults who are not yet vaccinated.

“Our new normal is coming in June, and it’s because of our community-wide commitment to getting vaccinated,” Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said following Thursday’s announcement. “The home stretch is here.”

Despite the wide availability, health officials worried as a fourth wave of hospitalizations has spread across the state. But last week, the Inslee administration opted to put decisions on reopening phases on hold amid signs of a “plateau” in new cases.

Thursday, Inslee also announced that starting this fall for the 2021–2022 school year, state schools will offer full-time, in-person learning for all students as well as a remote learning option.

Washington’s plans for reopening are joined by new recommendations from the CDC allowing people who are two weeks removed from their second shot of Pfizer or Moderna or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine to go maskless inside except at facilities like hospitals or long term care facilities. The requirements also will remain in place on public transportation.

While Washington is joining most states pushing into full reopenings and the global pace of the pandemic has slowed, the virus continues to surge in nations that lack access to vaccines.

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