Indoor mask mandate to end in Washington on March 21

Article from AWB

Gov. Jay Inslee last week announced he will lift Washington’s indoor mask mandate on March 21. The timeline is based on trend lines suggesting that a month is enough time for hospitalization rates to fall to relatively safe levels.

Masks will no longer be required in retail establishments and other businesses, including restaurants, bars and gyms. The mandate will also be lifted for schools, child care facilities and libraries. However, private businesses can still require masks if they wish, and local governments are still able to enact local mask requirements.

Masks will continue to be required in health care and medical facilities, long-term care settings, public transit and correctional facilities.

Meanwhile, King County will end its Covid vaccine requirements at restaurants, bars and gyms on March 1. Businesses will be free to impose their own vaccination requirements if they wish, but the countywide mandate to check vaccine status will disappear.

The Associated Press reports that many employers are reverting to more normal operations, including some large employers who will no longer require fully vaccinated workers to wear masks on the job unless required by state or local laws.