OLYMPIA, Wash. – Governor Jay Inslee has set a date for a news conference regarding mask mandates.
He is expected to announce whether or not he’ll lift the indoor mask mandate during a press conference Thursday, February 17th at 2 p.m.
Last week, Inslee said that the state’s outdoor mask mandate will expire on Friday, February 18th and he has no plans to extend it.
While many are anxiously waiting for the date to be announced, some researchers say that it should come soon.
“We’re still coming down in terms of hospital admissions but many states like Florida, the mask mandate is not needed. California, the mask mandate is not needed,” UW researcher Dr. Ali Mokdad told KOMO News. “But in a week from now, in our own state, we don’t need a mask mandate.”
Mokdad explains that it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see more experts approving the end of mask restrictions.
“There is no need for masks anymore, in my opinion,” said Mokdad. “Because 50 to 60 percent of Americans have been infected and we have a high vaccination rate.”