Masks are mandatory as of this Friday

With death and infection counts seeming to steadily increase, Gov. Jay Inslee and Secretary of Health John Wiesman today announced a statewide mandatory face covering order effective Friday, June 26.

“While some of us are wearing face coverings in public, we must increase usage to best control the virus,” Wiesman said.  “Washington's strategy to restart the economy and get people back to work will only be successful if, together, we act safely and follow health recommendations."

Last Saturday, after Yakima County cases soared to more than six times the average rate in Washington, Gov. Inslee ordered that face coverings be worn in public spaces throughout Yakima County. Today’s order reflects subsequent reports of cases increasing in several more counties.

The number of Yakima County patients requiring hospitalization exceeded the county’s capacity to serve them locally last week, prompting authorities to transport some patients to hospitals in Seattle, more than 140 miles away.

Starting Friday, every Washingtonian must wear a facial covering when in a public space, as mandated by the public health order signed by Wiesman. This includes both indoor and outdoor public spaces.

No penalties for non-compliance with the order were announced.  The order was met with criticism on Medium and social media from several perspectives, including: those who are opposed in principle to using face coverings, those who believe that disease rates have levelled off or diminished, those who believe that masks are unsafe and others who feel the order comes too late to make a difference.