Inslee Expands Mask Mandate To Include Large Outdoor Gatherings

OLYMPIA, WA — Gov. Jay Inslee is expanding Washington state's mask order to include new mask requirements at large outdoor gatherings.

Under the new changes, everyone five and older will be required to wear facial coverings at outdoor events with 500 or more attendees, regardless of their vaccination status. As the governor explains, the restrictions are necessary to tamp down on the continued spread of the coronavirus' delta variant, which now accounts for more than 98 percent of Washington's current COVID-19 infections, and which spreads much more easily than the initial strain.

"The outdoors remain the safest place for people to be, we understand that, but when people are packed tightly together we're getting transmission and ultimately hospitalizations and death," Inslee said. "When you combine large crowds with the delta variant without any mitigation measures in place, we're going to keep seeing these superspreader events even in outdoor environments. Science has proven masks can reduce the risk of those transmissions."

Washington has already seen one highly-publicized outdoor superspreader event: in mid-August the Watershed Music Festival at the gorge sparked a cluster of COVID-19 outbreaks across Western Washington. Investigators say more than 200 people were infected at that event.

"We're seeing evidence of transmission, unfortunately, in outdoor settings," Inslee said.

According to Washington Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah, five outdoor gatherings became superspreader events in the state of Washington over the past six weeks.

"More than 500 people were infected at these concerts, fairs, rodeos across Washington," Shah said. "We strongly recommend people wear masks any time they are in a crowded setting."

For 37 of Washington's 39 counties, the governor's new mask guidance will go into effect beginning Monday, Sept. 13. The remaining two, Pierce and King counties, already had similar outdoor mask mandates that went into effect this Tuesday. Like Inslee's, they require face coverings for residents five and older at any gathering with 500 or more attendees, regardless of vaccination status.

"We are taking this step to ensure the most vulnerable people in our community do not become infected or spread COVID-19," said Dr. Anthony L-T Chen, director of health at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. "The highly contagious Delta variant is causing a rapid increase of positive COVID-19 cases and leading to increased hospitalizations and deaths. Wearing masks in crowds of 500 or more will reduce community transmission and protect children under the age of 12, people who are immunocompromised and unvaccinated adults."

All three mask mandates will be in effect until further notice. The regulations in Inslee's initial mask mandate, which require mask use in all indoor public spaces, remains in effect.

The new outdoor masking requirements will no doubt cause hiccups for large outdoor events later this month, but some have already prepared for this possibility. For example, the Washington State Fair teamed up with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department to create its own mask requirement for visitors— before the countywide order was issued.

The stronger mask requirement comes as Washington is grappling with a fifth, record-breaking wave of COVID-19 infections, which has pushed the state's health care system to its limit. COVID-19 hospitalizations in Washington rose 7 percent over Labor Day weekend alone, and health leaders continue to urge everyone to get vaccinated.

"We are likely to see continued increases in hospital admissions in the coming week or weeks, and it's essential to continue to mask up and do everything we can, including getting vaccinated," Shah said.

The move also comes the same day that the Biden Administration unveiled new vaccination requirements that will impact an estimated 100 million Americans. State health leaders say moves like that may continue to be necessary, as vaccination is the best way to protect public health from the pandemic.

"We want to do everything we can to require [the vaccine] where we can, or encourage where we can," Shah said.