King County Reinstates Outdoor Mask Mandate Due to COVID | Health news from the healthiest communities

SEATTLE (AP) – Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases Washington the most populous county in the state is reinstating outdoor mask mandates for large events and strongly encouraging people to wear masks in other outdoor environments when they cannot stay six feet away from one of the other.

In a press release Thursday Public Health – Seattle and King County said that starting September 7, face masks will be required for outdoor events of 500 or more people. The directive applies to vaccinated and unvaccinated people over 5 years of age.

The recommendation for outdoor masks when people cannot socially move away from non-household members is also for people 5 years and older, regardless of their immunization status.

“With the high rates of disease spread and our healthcare system struggling to keep pace, it’s time to take extra steps to keep us and our communities safe,” the health agency said.

King County, which includes Seattle, is home to approximately 2.2 million people. As recently as last week, county manager Dow Constantine boasted that King County has one of the highest vaccination rates of any major county in the United States. As of the past week, more than 70% of people 12 and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19. vaccine.

In its statement, the county health agency noted the high number of vaccinations in the area but said “there are still around 750,000 people in King County who remain unvaccinated and susceptible to COVID-19. “.

This number includes children under 12 who are not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.

Health officials have said that vaccinated people have a “much lower risk” of catching and spreading the disease than unvaccinated people, “but the risk is not zero.”

This week, state health officials said the delta strain of the COVID-19 virus is filling hospitals at an “alarming” rate and continues to strain health workers. There are now about 1,500 COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the state.

“The layering of several prevention strategies, including wearing a well-made and properly fitted face mask in crowded outdoor areas, is a necessary precaution at this time to limit the spread of COVID-19 and cases, hospitalizations and preventable deaths, ”said King County health worker Dr. Jeff Duchin.

Since last week, the people of Oregon, regardless of their immunization status, once had to wear masks in most outdoor public places.

Copyright 2021 The Associated press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.