All Washingtonians Should Mask Up Again, Inslee Recommends

ACROSS WASHINGTON — Gov. Jay Inslee is recommending that all Washingtonians wear masks in indoor public spaces, but is stopping short of a formal mask mandate.

"We are recommending, statewide, that people consider wearing a mask regardless of their vaccination status," Inslee said at a news conference Wednesday. "This is only a recommendation, it is not a legal requirement."

Previously, the state Department of Health had hinted that a mask mandate could be on the table. Instead, Washington officials are simply urging that everyone use their best judgement, and wear a mask, if only to protect themselves and others.

"I know it's frustrating for people to even have to think about [masking], but that's the situation we are in, and the more people who get vaccinated the less we'll have to think about this," Inslee said.

Some places, like the state of Nevada and Kansas City, have recently elected to reinstate mask mandates, the Associated Press reported.

There remains one place in Washington where masks will be legally required: schools. All students and employees in Evergreen State schools will need to wear masks while on campus, regardless of vaccination status. State health leaders say the concession is necessary to protect students under 12, who are not eligible for vaccination.

"Importantly, this is a legal requirement that all districts will have to follow," Inslee said.

The governor's plea that Washingtonians continue to wear facial coverings indoors comes as a response to recent surge in the Delta variant of COVID-19, which now accounts for more than half of Washington's new coronavirus cases, as well as the state's flagging vaccination rate.

At Wednesday's conference, the governor urged unvaccinated Washingtonians to consider getting a shot, which he argued will help hasten the end of the pandemic. Inslee also noted that some hesitation is due to anti-vaccine misinformation propagating on social media, which the state is taking steps to address.

"I do encourage anyone who has a question about the vaccine to talk to your medical provider," Inslee said. "Those are the people with the know."

A mask mandate would bring the state more in-line with new Centers for Disease Control mask guidance released earlier this week. The CDC's latest update says counties seeing above 50 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in a week should be mandating indoor mask use. Roughly two-thirds of Washington counties currently exceed that threshold.

Washington has left the door open for individual counties to impose their own mask mandates if they so choose — though there has yet to be any indication that county governments will take the state up on that offer. Instead, earlier this week eight health officers from across the Puget Sound region issued a letter similar to Inslee's plea, recommending the public wear masks in indoor public spaces, but not requiring it.

The health officers rounded out their statement by asking everyone who has yet to be vaccinated to consider taking a shot:

Vaccinations are our best defense against COVID-19 and are safe, effective, and readily available for everyone age 12 and over. Please get yours immediately if you are not already vaccinated.

A recent analysis of COVID-19 risk found that unvaccinated people had infection rates 15 times higher than vaccinated people, 34 times higher for hospitalizations and were 43 times more likely to die of COVID-19 complications.