COVID hospitalizations increase, exterior mask warrants begin

COVID-19 hospitalizations across Washington state after Labor Day weekend continue to rise, according to early state data reports.

In a press conference Tuesday, Washington State Hospital Association CEO Cassie Sauer said after the weekend that hospital officials counted 1,674 Washingtonians hospitalized with the virus, an increase of 7 % from last week, the Seattle Times reported.

“Even more shocking,” she said, 251 of those patients are on ventilators, which is a 34% increase from last week.

“To be clear, a lot of these people won’t make it,” Sauer said. Patients are “almost exclusively” unvaccinated or immunocompromised people, she said.

Some non-emergency procedures statewide also continue to be canceled, including colostomy reversals and other “very serious care that people need,” Sauer said.

The trend of increased hospitalization means local authorities will increasingly require proof of vaccination for non-essential public gatherings, Sauer said. King County officials said Tuesday that a vaccine verification policy is underway while Clallam and Jefferson counties have already implemented a policy requiring proof of vaccination at restaurants.

Directives from Washington state’s two most populous counties to wear masks in certain outdoor locations went into effect Tuesday due to the increase in cases. The guidelines in King and Pierce counties, regardless of immunization status, apply to people 5 years of age and older at events involving 500 people or more.

Last month, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a statewide mask mandate for indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status.