OLYMPIA, Wash. – Governor Jay Inslee is expanding the state’s mask mandate.
“Effective Monday (September 13th), we will expand our current facial covering requirement to include large outdoor events over 500 people,” says Inslee. “It’s very similar to the measures recently adopted by King and Pierce Counties.”
At a news conference on Thursday, he said the move was prompted by several recent outdoor concerts and other events that became super spreaders.
And he had harsh words for those who refuse to get vaccinated.
“This not about you. It is about us. It is about whether or not we will allow you to infect our children and our grandchildren because you have not been vaccinated,” says Inslee. “It is about whether we will allow you to infect your coworkers because you are not vaccinated.”
State Secretary of health Dr. Umair Shah says they’re advising hospitals to put off non-emergent procedures as COVID caseloads increase.