In light of these new recommendations and decreasing COVID-19 activity in Washington State, Governor Inslee has shortened the timeline for lifting the mask mandate. As disease prevalence increases, schools and providers should consider adding back in additional layers of prevention or mitigation measures, the guidance says. The Panhandle Health District reported 78 new COVID-19 cases and no additional deaths. Gov. Responding to a query from The Spokesman-Review, a district spokesperson said that SPS will continue to follow public health guidance. Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens. Previously, Oregon had set March 31 as the date its face covering requirement would end. Their loved ones wonder how, Bellingham police scuttle Alaska sailors' canoe caper , 2 dead, 1 critically wounded in shooting at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle , Native American tribes from across country battle in Spokane in 45-team basketball tourney , Spokane Valley author wins award for 'cozy' mystery novel , Craig Chamberlin, former voice of Spokane County Sheriff's Office, dies, Getting There: WSDOT reminds Spokane it could close local access to U.S. Highway 195 if safety issues arent addressed, Cheney High School student dies after incident during PE class. Honestly, its been almost radio silent here, Shay said Tuesday. There has not been similar pressure in Spokane, said Jeremy Shay, president of the Spokane Education Association. These stories can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. The next phase will focus more on empowering individuals and families, rather than government restrictions. New guidance issued Tuesday from the Washington state Department of Health clears the way for school districts to make masks optional for students starting Monday. Face masks will no longer be required at Washington health care facilities starting April 3, the state announced Friday. Jay Inslee and the secretary of health were in the process of lifting many of the COVID restrictions in the early months of 2022. Feb. 28, 2022 May 1, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. EDT. Fridays announcement made by the Washington State Department of Health comes alongside a similar announcement in Oregon. Our independent, nonprofit newsroom produces award-winning stories, podcasts and events. Shortly after the announcement, Spokane Public Schools sent an online message to staff and families acknowledging the new deadline. (1) Its time to drop Washingtons mask mandate! Updated: 8:42 AM PST March 12, 2022. Jay Inslee, but not as soon as recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. From all corners of Washington, people including school students are demanding an end to indoor-mask requirements, according to the letter by Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, and others. But we are particularly attentive to the health care system and hospitalizations, Faulk wrote. The Department of Health is still experiencing some data delays in its reporting system, which could impact daily reports from local health districts. Provide hand washing facilities and supplies. The governor has instituted some of the strictest public-health measures in the nation to tamp down the coronavirus, including a requirement that masks be worn in public places. WebWashington State Mask Mandate. Jay Inslee announced Monday that the states indoor mask mandate will lift on Saturday, March 12, 10 days earlier than previously announced. Updated Wed., March 9, 2022 at 9:54 p.m. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy. There are 92 patients hospitalized in Spokane hospitals with COVID-19. WebSee Safety & Health Core Rules, Accident Prevention Program Chapter 296-800 WAC. Inslee was scheduled to hold a press conference at 1 p.m. Monday to discuss the changes. Nearly three On Friday The CDC changed its recommendations for indoor masking for most people, depending on Covid risk by county. If returning after the fifth day, the individual is strongly recommended to wear a well-fitted mask or face shield with a drape during days 6-10 of their isolation period, or test negative with an antigen or at-home test any day after day 5., The document notes that masks may also be required universally during clusters and/or outbreaks in classrooms or with groups of students (such as a choir class or a sports team), or within provider settings, to limit disease transmission and ensure in-person instruction.. Oregon's Covid state of emergency is scheduled to expire April 1. Shah said the department is monitoring BA.2 and encouraged people to protect themselves against BA.2 and potential future variants. The new CDC guidelines removed the strong mask recommendations for most of the country, switching to a county-by-county approach. Gov. Inslee had been facing pressure from some lawmakers to make changes to Washingtons mask requirements, sooner than later. India has returned to mask mandates in some areas after rising coronavirus cases linked to a new variant called Arcturus, or XBB.1.16. Jay Inslee announced Thursday that the states indoor mask mandate will be lifted in a little more than a month. News > Health Washingtons mask mandate will end March 21, Inslee says. Its time to drop Washingtons mask mandate! Arielle Dreher's reporting for The Spokesman-Review is primarilyfunded by the Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund, with additional support from Report for America and members of the Spokane community. Inslee will be joined at Mondays press conference by Washington State Department of Health secretary Umair Shah, MD, MPH. You can watch a live stream of the event on KREM.com and the KREM 2 App. PeaceHealth is evaluating the announcements from Washington Department of Health and Oregon Health Authority regarding the end to masking requirements in health care settings. WATCH MORE: CDC releases new mask guidance that would ease mask restrictions for many Americans. Inslee. Jenna James, who has long covid and other chronic conditions, feels uncomfortable in hospital settings now that masks are no longer required. As part of the transition from pandemic to endemic, I believe it is safe and timely to eliminate the statewide masking requirement for students and allow for a decision by local health officials, Reykdal said in prepared remarks. Jay Inslee announced the state will drop its indoor mask requirement on March 12, following the CDC easing guidelines last week. If Your Time is short. Face masks will no longer be required at Washington health care facilities starting April 3, the state announced Friday. Referring to new guidance expected next week, communications director Sandra Jarrard said in an email that the new guidance will allow for SPS to determine the next steps in implementing updated health and safety protocols.. Districts are required to have COVID testing available to staff and students. Masks are recommended in indoor public spaces and especially in: Any organization may require you to wear a mask. Jay Inslee said Thursday that the statewide indoor mask mandate in Washington state will lift on March 21, 2022, including at schools and child care facilities. With the help of gynecologic oncology specialists at Providence, Amy beat cancerand found the courage to accomplish things shed never dreamed of. Counties with high levels of transmission are still recommended to have mask requirements indoors. A new coronavirus subvariant, XBB. In Washington, nine counties, mostly in central Washington, are considered to have high levels of transmission. Gov. Its a different metric than what Inslee used earlier this month to announce the March 21 end date for the mask mandate. Students who exhibit symptoms at school are required to be isolated in a designated location where masks are required. Masks, particularly well-fitting, high-quality masks such as N95s or KN95s, remain an important tool in helping to limit the spread of COVID Languages. Students will still have the choice to wear masks and physically distance from others, which families in the district can communicate to their childs teacher, the email says. The governor announced that Washington will be ending its indoor mask requirements in most settings on March 12, previously the mask mandate was set to expire on March 21. The state will no longer require masks in most indoor Updated: 10:34 AM PST February 15, 2022. The health district plans to be in constant communication with school districts going forward about how to best respond to cases and outbreaks in schools. Posting comments is now limited to subscribers only. Looking at the CDC data, Inslee said it is likely that as a state, Washington will be out of the high risk category by March 11. He added that California and Oregon have both already made announcements on masking. Moving forward, the district said it would continue to follow the guidance of public health officials, and we ask that all students and staff abide by health and safety protocols., The district thanked families for their patience and support as we continue to navigate the pandemic.. Alec Regimbal , SeattlePI March 11, 2022 People shopping at Pike Place Market in Seattle during the pandemic. In June of last year, the state altered a mandate that had been in place since the onset of the pandemic to allow vaccinated people to go without masks. We are turning a page in our fight against the COVID virus, Inslee told reporters Monday. Furnel, Inc. has been successfully implementing this policy through honesty, integrity, and continuous improvement. COVIDs still out there. Inslee said the state will remain ready, in case there are new variants, and will respond properly if that time comes. When humans breathe, they inhale about 6 liters of air, but because a mask has 0.1 liters of space, 1/60th of the air breathed while wearing a mask comes from Come on, governor the people of Washington deserve more.. Washingtons masking requirements for K-12 schools and indoor public spaces and businesses remain in effect for now. Masking mandates put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic across the state were lifted almost a year ago except for health care settings. Its very disappointing that the governor chose only to announce an end to the outdoor mask mandate something most people had forgotten even existed, Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, said in a statement. Jay Inslee will give an update on Monday about ending the states indoor mask requirements earlier than he previously announced. Private businesses, organizations, schools and childcares may still choose to have their own mask requirements, even after the government requirement for masks is lifted. The statewide indoor mask mandate ends this weekend, but individual school districts will have the final say in whether they require masks in classrooms. Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Seattle Times staff reporter Joseph OSullivan covers state government and the Legislature. Masks remain mandatory in hospitals, long-term care facilities and state government buildings. Inslee cited quickly dropping Covid cases and hospitalizations as the rationale for the decision. The elimination of the Secretary of Healths mask order will also affect long-term care and adult correctional facilities. , What happens to COVID vaccines and drugs authorized for emergency use when health emergency ends? In this file photo, Safia Hussein, center, hugs her sons, 4th-grade student Anwaar Boneya, left, and 2nd-grade student Sabir Boneya, right, before they head into their first day of school at Wing Luke Elementary School on Wednesday, September 1, 2021. After the announcement from West Coast governors, King County also announced plans to end its indoor mask rules on March 12. Washington Gov. The decision was a result of discussions involving the three states, following new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance announced last week. Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens. Additionally, the Washington National Guard will no longer be needed to help in those facilities, he said. Jay Inslee speaks to students Friday at Gonzaga University in Spokane. Washington Gov. Velzquez noted that there will be some circumstances when particular schools may need to use masks, and in the future, if a new variant or mutation causes an uptick in cases or cause for concern, school districts might need to require masks. Furnel, Inc. is dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality products and services in a timely manner at a competitive price. Jay Inslee said Wednesday that he expects next week to announce some details for when the state will end COVID-19 emergency mask requirements that cover schools and businesses. Though the current state mask order will lift on April 3, local or tribal governments, facilities and providers may choose to continue to require masks, according to the release. Those at high risk for illness should talk to their healthcare provider. Updated Tue., March 1, 2022 at 12:42 a.m. 2 Washington state men died fighting in Ukraine. The Mead School District sent an email to district families noting that they will comply with the new department guidance, meaning masks are optional. The states Covid dashboard shows that as of February 12, the most recent date for which data is available, the hospitalization rate was 13.5 per 100,000. The district announced on Wednesday that masks would be optional, however. Most of the information in the DOH guidance is straightforward, and some current precautions will remain. On Wednesday, more than a dozen House Republican lawmakers sent the governor a letter calling on him to end mask orders and vaccine mandates for government, school and health care workers. News > Education Washingtons mask mandate is ending Saturday, but the choice will remain for schools. Jay Inslee speaks as he gives his annual State of the State address, Jan. 11, 2022, at the Capitol in Olympia. These posters can be used by establishments who choose to set their own mask policy. Velzquez also noted that some staff and students will likely continue wearing masks even after this weekend. March 13th would mark the 24th month of our pandemic response in our schools and it feels great to be able to see things like masking and contact tracing roll off, Rydell said. For more information on this, please contact our newspapers managing editor. Washington is seeing in increase in the BA.2 subvariant of omicron, but there are a lot of other things the state is watching as well to make these decisions. OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) Washingtons statewide indoor mask mandate, one of the few left in the country, will lift in most places on March 21, including at schools While this represents another step forward for Washingtonians, we must still be mindful that many within our communities remain vulnerable, Inslee said in a prepared statement. SEATTLE Washington states indoor mask mandate lifted at 11:59 p.m. on March 11 after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new The new guidance also puts the onus on school districts to add mitigation measures like masks back into place in the event that virus cases increase again, with the help of the local health district. "Many businesses and families will continue choosing to wear masks, because weve learned how effective they are at keeping one another safe. In a statement Wednesday, Washington state Schools Superintendent Chris Reykdal called on Inslee and the state Department of Health to allow local health districts to make decisions on masking. I dont know if he is indifferent or just unprepared. Last week, that was moved up to March 19. (KATHY PLONKA/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW). A new law enacted on Feb. 16 effectively barred mask mandates in schools, by giving parents the right to exempt their children from mask-wearing without stating a Jay Inslee has set a press conference today at 2 p.m. to discuss the states ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Watch here: ! Meanwhile, case counts had dropped to 314 per 100,000 people putting the state much closer to pre-omicron surge levels. Kaiser Permanente is continuously working to re-evaluate its masking guidelines to align with clinical standards to protect the health of patients and staff, a spokesperson wrote in an email to The Columbian. Inslee reimposed a statewide mask mandate, announced a mask requirement for outdoor gatherings, to allow local health districts to make decisions on masking, according to the letter by Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen. Feb. 17, 2022 Updated Fri., Feb. 18, 2022 at 7:04 a.m.. Washington Gov. Spokane is at medium risk, meaning healthy people dont need to mask indoors, Mayor Woodward Tweeted. Everything you need to know about the end of the federal transportation mask mandate By Hannah Sampson Updated April 19, 2022 at 1:26 p.m. EDT | Published April 19, 2022 at 10:19 a.m. EDT The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.