Cowlitz County likely to remain in Phase 2 Some larger counties are in danger of backslide By Katie Fairbanks, The Daily News, Longview, Wash. Published: May 1, 2021, 9:09pm Share: Cowlitz County’s COVID-19 rates are dropping, but cases and hospitalizations likely will remain too high for the county to move out of Phase 2 when the state re-evaluates counties Monday. The state will announce changes Tuesday, with the rules taking effect Friday. The state will next re-evaluate counties May 24. Cowlitz, Pierce and Whitman counties were moved back to Phase 2 on April 16, the first change after the entire state moved to Phase 3 on March 22. The three counties are likely to remain in Phase 2, and be joined by several of the state’s larger counties based on data available Friday.