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(AP Photo / Jeff Chiu, on file)
Snohomish County will reinstate its mask mandate this week for all residents, regardless of their immunization status.
King County recommends that everyone wear a mask “again”
The new directive will come into effect on August 12 and will be mandatory for anyone aged 5 and over in all indoor public spaces, including retail establishments, grocery stores and government buildings. It does not apply to outdoor spaces, although county officials recommend that residents mask themselves in these scenarios regardless.
According to health care worker Dr. Chris Spitters, COVID-19 cases in Snohomish County have doubled in the past three weeks, which is a larger peak across Washington state.
“It’s not sustainable and it’s preventable,” he said at a recent briefing. “We have the means to prevent this – we have to get back in the right direction.”
Health officials attribute low vaccination rates, an increase in large gatherings, and a “reluctance to hide” as determining factors in the increase in case rates in the county, as well as the prevalence of the highly delta variant. infectious.
In July, unvaccinated residents of Snohomish County were 10 times more likely to contract COVID-19, be hospitalized with COVID, or die from COVID than those who were fully vaccinated.
A statewide voluntary mask recommendation remains in place, enacted in late July by Governor Jay Inslee. These guidelines are in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Masks are still mandatory for all Kindergarten to Grade 12 students and staff on school premises.
This is a developing story – we’ll provide more details as they become available.
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