Statewide indoor mask mandates to ease March 12, Gov. Inslee announces
Indoor mask mandates in Washington State will be lifted on March 12, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday.
The move to lift the statewide mandates comes earlier than expected, after Inslee announced nearly two weeks ago that the mandates would be lifted on March 21.
But the recent changes to mask guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prompted Inslee, as well as leaders from Oregon and California, to reconsider dates.
The CDC now recommends that only areas with high transmissibility or high case rates wear masks. Most of the U.S. population lives in areas where the virus now poses a low to medium threat to hospitals, according to the CDC. Masks are still recommended for those who are immunocompromised or at risk for illness, especially if in an area where case rates are medium to high.
Masks will still be required at places such as hospitals, dental offices, long-term care facilities and correctional facilities in Washington.
Federal guidelines still require the use of masks on public transit and at airports but have removed school buses from the list. Masks will still need to be worn on school buses until the statewide mandate lift on March 12, however.
Businesses and restaurants can still have their own mask and vaccination guidelines if they wish to do so.
Proof of vaccination will no longer be required at large events after March 1.
King County has also relaxed its vaccination guidelines at businesses and restaurants after March 1.
This story was originally published February 28, 2022 at 11:12 AM with the headline "Statewide indoor mask mandates to ease March 12, Gov. Inslee announces."
