King County officials have applied for state permission to further reopen retail stores as early as this week.

Stores in King County currently are operating in a modified Phase 1.5 status that allows customers to occupy no more than 15% of sales space, not counting employees.

If state officials grant the application, stores formerly closed as “non-essential” under Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home Stay Healthy” orders would be allowed to have customers fill 30% of sales space under the state’s gradual reopening plan to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Inslee, whose orders began on March 23, resulted in record-setting layoffs and store closures. He eventually lifted the orders in favor of a four-phase, county-by-county recovery plan.

Washington Retail maintains an extensive Retail Re-opening Resources page on its website to provide retailers with guidance on the reopening process.

As Washington’s retail center, King County sales recovery could help speed the state’s overall economic rebound from the coronavirus.