Eight Washington counties recommend indoor masking regardless of vaccination status

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PIERCE COUNTY, Washing – King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap, Clallam, Jefferson, San Juan and Grays Harbor counties health workers released a joint statement on Monday advising individuals to wear masks in indoor public spaces, regardless of their immunization status.

The announcement came in response to the increase in cases of Delta variant of Covid-19.

Those recommendations apply to anyone over the age of two entering retail businesses, grocery stores, government buildings or other businesses where members of the public may enter freely.

While there is no requirement for those vaccinated to wear masks indoors, this is a public health recommendation as groundbreaking cases now occur more frequently.

Frequently Asked Questions Below Provided By local health workers:

Where does this recommendation apply?

Anyone over the age of 2 is encouraged to wear a mask if entering an indoor space open to the public. This includes retail businesses, grocery stores, government buildings or other businesses or places where the public can enter freely. If you are in an indoor space where you cannot be sure those around you are fully immunized, we encourage you to mask yourself. Masks add another layer of protection to what the vaccination has already given you. If you are not vaccinated, it prevents transmission to others.

What does this mean for businesses?

This is not a new or separate mandate for companies, which must still comply with statewide mask requirements and should require masks for unvaccinated people in public spaces. interiors. However, we encourage companies to ask all people to mask themselves on entry to protect workers and customers, especially if they are unable to verify the immunization status of everyone entering their premises. establishment.

RELATED: Citing Delta Variant, Washington State Urges Indoor Masks

Why are local health workers urging everyone to wear a mask in these settings when the Ministry of Health / governor’s office did not?

Local public health officials are responsible for providing their best advice and guidance to their communities on how COVID-19 is transmitted and how to prevent it. Due to the increase in the number of cases, hospitalizations and transmission of the Delta variant, health workers felt it was important to share this recommendation with their communities to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.

How will this be applied?

It is not a warrant. This is a recommendation from the Puget Sound area health workers to keep the community safe. Resources are available for businesses, such as signage to remind customers and workers to put on their masks before entering, but this recommendation does not make a more stringent requirement than anything from the state, and there is no enforcement action related to this recommendation.

If vaccines are so effective, why do vaccinated people have to dress up?

Vaccines are very effective and this recommendation does not affect this fact. No vaccine is 100 percent effective in preventing disease. Those who are fully vaccinated are less likely to get sick with COVID and much less likely to be hospitalized or die if they do get sick. Yet people who have been vaccinated can contract COVID. These are called revolutionary cases, and we know a small number are happening here in Washington. So even if you are at least 10 times less likely to contract COVID or have a serious illness if you are fully vaccinated, you can still get sick and potentially pass it on to others. Well-fitting, multi-layered fabric face masks reduce the spread of infectious droplets from a case by up to 70-80%. These same masks also reduce the risk of inhaling infectious droplets from other people by up to 50%. In short, wearing a mask protects you and protects others. As case rates increase and we continue to learn more about the highly transmissible Delta variant, masking is an additional layer of protection that health workers are encouraging for everyone indoors in public. Vaccination, wearing a mask, good ventilation and hand hygiene: we need everyone to keep the health and economic consequences of this Delta strain at bay.

Isn’t that confusing? Are people listening to the CDC, DOH, or their local health department?

This is not a mandate that contradicts the demands of the CDC or the DOH. These are tips to help keep people safe and healthy. There is an agreement between the CDC, DOH, and local public health officials that COVID vaccines and masking have been effective in reducing transmission. While the CDC and DOH do not require masks in all indoor public places for fully vaccinated people, it is clear that even vaccinated people can still choose to mask themselves, and we encourage them to do so. do. At the same time, this ensures easy verification that all unvaccinated people are also hidden in these settings.

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