By Pepper Fisher
OLYMPIA — Washington state’s indoor mask mandate now has an end date. Gov. Inslee announced Thursday that the mandate will expire for most public settings on Monday, March 21.
“So considering these best projections, based on the best science, the best epidemiology that we have today, and based on what is good for Washington State, we are confident that we will be able to reach a level by March 21st where we can remove the requirement to wear masks in most of our situations. So we will be removing the mask mandate as of Monday, March 21st. We think that’s a very important step in the next part of our journey to normality.”
That means that on the second day of spring, masks will no longer be required in schools, bars and restaurants, places of worship, or stores and businesses.
Masks will still be required in some settings such as hospitals, clinics and dental offices, as well as long-term care and correctional facilities. Federal law also requires masks be worn on public transportation and school buses, but that could change by then.
In addition, the state will stop requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for entry to large events beginning on March 1.
Note that businesses and local governments can still choose to require face masks for workers or customers, and individual school districts can also still choose to require students and teachers to wear masks.
Also Thursday, the Clallam County Health Department issued a statement saying the local mask mandate for indoor public places will be rescinded on the same day, March 21st.
As of Thursday, the two-week case rate is 736 per 100,000 population. That rate represents a more than 50 percent drop since the middle of January. Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry said she expects that rapid decrease to continue if masking in indoor, public places continues until March 21.
Dr. Berry cautioned that relaxing mitigation measures too early can change that trajectory.