![]() Employers still should try to find ways to minimize COVID-19 risks, such as by promoting vaccination, improving ventilation and encouraging social distancing.Įmployers still are required to notify workers of potential exposures. The governor’s office urged employers to continue to adhere to safe workplace protocols, even when the masking requirement is lifted. He also said the National Guard was no longer needed at hospitals, and restrictions on less critical procedures would lift Friday. He announced an end to the mask requirement for large outdoor events, which will lift Friday. Last week, Inslee said Washington is entering a transition period out of the pandemic. “We are pleased that districts will have adequate time to anticipate issues with staffing adequacy and inequities along with mask access for those who want them.” Moving forward ![]() “Front-line educators see the challenges that we must address to have a smooth transition,” Delaney said in a statement. Washington Education Association President Larry Delaney urged communities to continue taking reasonable steps to protect themselves against the COVID-19 pandemic. That can lead to fines or loss of licenses, he said. Inslee said he hopes districts and businesses fully understand they are breaking the law if they choose to end a mask mandate before March 21. Until the new guidance is in place, however, Reykdal said it is still the law to follow mask mandates and other Department of Health guidance. Instead, it adds “a little more flexibility to take that next step,” he said. Reykdal said the new guidance does not mean the pandemic is over. Social distancing, ventilation and sanitation requirements also will be updated in the new Department of Health guidance. Testing must remain accessible for those who have symptoms or have been exposed, according to Inslee’s office. ![]() Students and staff with symptoms of COVID-19 still will be required to quarantine away from school buildings. Schools still will be required to report COVID-19 cases and outbreaks. The new guidance, which will include the end of the mask mandate, will go into effect March 21. The Department of Health also will update guidance for K-12 schools during the week of March 7, according to Inslee’s office. School leaders in Eastern Washington say there is an urgent need to address students’ social and emotional well-being. School officials, including Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and a number of Eastern Washington superintendents, have been pushing for an end to the mask mandate. “There is optimism and confidence in the declining rates, and this gives Spokane County time to be in a safer place to show flexibility with public health measures,” Velázquez said. Frank Velázquez said in a statement he appreciated Inslee taking time for hospitals to recover from the high rates happening now. Spokane Regional Health District’s Health Officer Dr. That would not be consistent with where the science is right now.” “I know people want to say it’s totally over today. “This has been a long, long journey,” Inslee said. Inslee said he is choosing March 21 as the end date because projections show that is when daily hospital admissions should be low enough to leave health officials comfortable ending the mandate. But as the country comes off its omicron variant peak and cases and hospitalizations continue to decrease, many Democratic governors have announced end dates for their mask mandates.Īs of Thursday, case rates and hospitalizations still remained higher than at any period previous to the omicron surge.Įducators and students in the Spokane area expressed relief Thursday that the state’s longstanding mask mandate is coming to an end. Inslee reinstated a mask mandate for all indoor spaces in August as the delta variant brought case spikes and overwhelmed hospitals. The vaccine requirement for large events has been in effect since Nov. The governor also announced that beginning March 1, vaccine verification for large events will no longer be required. “We think this is both good for our health and our education of our children and the total reopening of our economy,” Inslee told reporters. Masks still will be required in health care facilities, long-term care settings, public transit and correctional facilities. Jay Inslee announced on Thursday in just more than a month, masks will no longer be required in places like schools, restaurants, gyms or grocery stores. OLYMPIA – Washington’s indoor mask mandate will end March 21.Īs COVID-19 case rates continue to fall, Gov.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |