OLYMPIA, Wash. – Gov. Jay Inslee says we should start masking up again in public indoor spaces.
He announced that Washington state will follow federal guidance and recommend that people – including those who are fully vaccinated – wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas where there is a high rate of COVID-19.
He blames the move on the highly contagious delta variant and on flatlining vaccination rates.
“It is unfortunate that we’re in this position because we have the tools to beat this. We have the tools to break the back of this COVID pandemic,” says Inslee. “But there are too many people who although they have access to a free life-saving vaccine, they haven’t availed themselves of that.”
Inslee says he’ll also require that all students and employees of K-12 schools wear masks for the upcoming school year.
His office says the masking guidance for the general public is just a recommendation but the school masking requirement is state law.