Mask Mandate For Outdoor Events Begins Next Week In King County

SEATTLE — A new public health order will soon require attendees to mask up at large outdoor events in King County, regardless of their vaccination status. The latest mask mandate comes as hospitalizations remain higher than ever across the state, driven by a sustained surge in COVID-19 cases fueled by the delta variant.

"King County residents have worked hard and made many sacrifices to limit the spread of COVID-19 during this continuing pandemic marathon, and I know it's been difficult," said Dr. Jeff Duchin, the county's health officer. "Today, as we face a surge in delta cases and serious impacts on our health care system, I'm asking you to continue to support one another by continuing to take multiple, layered protection steps necessary to protect your own health, the health of your family, your friends and our community. Most importantly, if you're 12 years or older, get vaccinated. Wear a well-made and snug-fitting face mask any time you're in indoor public spaces and crowded outdoor spaces, whether you're vaccinated or not."

The health officer signed dual orders Thursday, covering both outdoor events and indoor public spaces. A statewide indoor mask mandate has been in place since Aug. 23, while King County's local orders take effect after Labor Day weekend, beginning Sept. 7.

Here are the incoming outdoor mask rules:

• Face masks are required at any outdoor event with 500 or more people in attendance. This requirement applies to all vaccinated and unvaccinated people, 5 years of age and older.
• Masks are strongly recommended for everyone 5 years of age and older – both vaccinated and unvaccinated – in any other outdoor setting where people cannot remain at least 6 feet apart from non-household members.

"We will continue to adapt our response measures to the reality of the evolving COVID-19 outbreak," Duchin said in a statement. "The Delta variant is more contagious through the air, causes more severe illness in adults, and we have a high level of community transmission in King County and Washington state. Outdoors is much safer than indoors, but there is risk even outdoors currently when large numbers of people are in close, prolonged contact."

While case counts have plateaued in King County in recent weeks, they remain very high, currently averaging 600 new cases per day, Duchin said. Even when case counts begin to decline, strains on the health care system are expected to persist for weeks. Health officials are also concerned about what impacts might be seen from the return to school and the changing of the seasons.

"The more contagious delta variant in combination with increasing activities, in-person schooling, the upcoming change in seasons and the anticipated gatherings for the holidays, along with the unpredictability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus all contribute to continued risk and uncertainty we face going into the fall and winter and the need for continued precautions," Duchin said.

Several outdoor events are planned around the region over Labor Day weekend before the rules formally take effect, including a two-day music festival at Seattle Center and a concert at T-Mobile Park. In waiting until after the holiday to begin the rule, the health officer said he wanted to give venues enough time to make the needed adjustments but encouraged early compliance.

"If you can start to comply with this today, you should," Duchin said. "We wanted to give our big venues — we're talking about stadium events that may be happening with tens of thousands of people — a little time to prepare for what would be required to enforce and put signage up and so on."

Though King County has some of the highest vaccination rates in the nation, officials estimate 750,000 residents remain unvaccinated, including children under 12 who are not yet eligible. Even among those who are eligible, vaccination rates have yet to catch up among younger groups. The county estimates 320,000 residents who are currently eligible remain unvaccinated, and at a much higher risk for hospitalization than residents who have completed their immunization series.

"Every day, large numbers of hospitals are reaching out to the Washington Medical Coordination Center," said Dr. Steve Mitchell, director of emergency services at Harborview Medical Center. "In the past few days, nearly 60% of the calls have been COVID-related. Capacity and staffing issues in hospitals are widespread and consistent across the state. The most significant impacts in western Washington are in south King, Thurston and Pierce counties."

When asked if he might support more restrictions in the future, Duchin said he supported any measures necessary to limit transmission and protect the health care system but favors an approach that allows activities to continue with layered precautions in place.

"At this point, we are firmly in the mindset of trying to allow people to do the things they want to do, that we haven't been able to do for so long, but do them safely," he said. "We're not taking anything off the table, but we're trying to be incremental and measured in our approach."

Read more about the new masking order on the Public Health Insider blog.