Mask Guidance Update for King County

There's a bit of confusion about mask guidance. Not to worry, King County has you covered! Here's a May 18 update directly from them:

Public Health – Seattle and King County is continuing to work with Washington state about implementation of the CDC's new mask guidance for fully vaccinated people.

In addition, over the weekend, the CDC Director and the Washington state Department of Health clarified that ending indoor mask mandates should be linked to local COVID-19 rates and vaccination coverage rates. King County's COVID-19 cases and hospitalization rates are elevated, and Public Health is considering whether ending the indoor mask mandate is the best option in King County at this time.

We will provide an update later this week.

Here is what you should know for now:

• Evidence suggests that the vaccines are highly effective at protecting fully vaccinated people from getting sick and reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19.
• Everyone should continue to wear masks in health-care settings like hospitals, long-term care, or doctor's offices; in correctional facilities; in homeless shelters; in schools; and on public transportation.
• Businesses may continue to require people to wear masks in their establishments and to ask for proof of vaccination.
• When unvaccinated people gather indoors, especially without wearing masks, they are at risk of getting COVID-19 themselves as well as spreading it to others.

Read this update at KingCounty.gov.