Resume Masking In Public, Washington Health Officers Say

TACOMA, WA — The top health officials from King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap, Clallam, Jefferson, San Juan, and Grays Harbor counties have come forward to issue a joint statement asking the public to keep wearing facial coverings and masks in indoor public spaces.

In their statement, posted Monday, the eight health officers say masking up remains one of the most effective ways to protect yourself, your family, and your community:

"We recommend all residents wear facial coverings when in indoor public settings where the vaccination status of those around you is unknown. This step will help reduce the risk of COVID-19 to the public, including customers and workers, help stem the increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in many parts of the state and decrease the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant."

As the statement hints, the request is partially a reaction to spread of the more-infectious Delta strain of COVID-19. The Delta strain recently became the dominant form of COVID-19 in Washington, and makes up an estimated 58 percent of the state's new COVID-19 infections.

Washington already requires that unvaccinated people wear masks in indoor public settings like at retailers, grocery stores, government buildings or any other indoor spaces open to the public. But without a practical way for public spaces to check and verify vaccination records, there's no telling if unmasked visitors are vaccinated or not.

That's why the health officers say it's better to be safe than sorry.

"Wearing a mask in indoor public settings where not everyone is known to be vaccinated is easy and effective and provides an extra layer of protection for all and allows us to more safely get back to doing the things we want to do and need to do," said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County.

The health officers stress that this is a request made in the interest of public safety, and not a threat of legal action.

"This is not a new or separate mandate for businesses, which must still comply with statewide mask requirements and should be requiring masks for unvaccinated individuals in public indoor spaces," reads a written statement from the Tacoma- Pierce County Health Department. "However, we are encouraging businesses to ask all individuals to mask up when entering in order to help protect workers and customers, particularly if they are unable to verify vaccination status of everyone who enters their establishment."

Though the health officer's request is not a legally-enforceable mandate, individual counties do have the power to impose their own mask mandates if they so choose.

"In a county where they're seeing case increase in the presence of Delta variant, it makes sense," said State Epidemiologist Dr. Scott Lindquist.

Lindquist also confirmed at a Department of Health briefing Thursday that the governor and Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah have discussed the possibility of reinstating a statewide mask mandate.

"There is no recommendation from the state or the governor at this point, but stay tuned - this stuff changes pretty quickly," Lindquist said.

The health officers round 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.

Up to 94 percent of King County hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 were in people who were not fully 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.

"It should be clear from this that the bottom line is that vaccines make it much less likely — but not impossible — that a person will catch and transmit COVID-19, but that they are highly effective at preventing serious illness and hospitalization," Duchin said.

Related stories:

As Delta Strain Spreads, WA Considers Renewing Mask Mandate

Health Officer Recommends Masking As Delta Surges In King County