³ÉÈËXÕ¾

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Washington updates mask rules now that state has reopened

Jun 30, 2021, 10:08 AM | Updated: 11:17 am

mask, mask rules, King County Sheriff's Office, mask mandate...

(Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

(Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

With Washington now fully reopened, the state Department of Health has updated .

In essence, don’t leave your mask at home if you’re unvaccinated. Unvaccinated people must wear a mask while indoors with people outside their household. It’s OK to ditch the mask outdoors, except when it’s difficult to social distance, such as at concerts, parades, and sporting events.

Still ‘critical’ work left to do with Washington now fully reopened

Vaccinated people don’t need to wear a mask outdoors nor indoors, unless it’s required by an establishment or business.

Masks are required for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people when visiting health care settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, K-12 schools, and transportation hubs.

Children under 2 years old should not wear a mask. Children ages 2-5 should wear a mask with adult supervision when in public settings when around people outside their household.

People with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask are exempt from the state’s mask rules.

People are not required to wear a face coverings in any of the following situations (according to the DOH):

  • When outdoors. People who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are encouraged to wear face coverings in crowded outdoor settings, such as at sporting events, fairs, parades, concerts, and similar settings where there is decreased ability to consistently maintain physical distance between non-household members.
  • At a small indoor gathering in a place not generally open to the public that is attended only by people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and by unvaccinated people from a single household in which on one is at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
  • While engaged in indoor training or competition in any type of sport designated by the Department of Health or in outdoor training or competition in any type of sport.
  • While swimming or engaged in other water sports or recreation.
  • While engaged in the act of eating or drinking.
  • While showering, bathing, or engaging in other personal hygiene or grooming activities that require the removal of the face covering.
  • When any party to a communication is deaf or hard of hearing and not wearing a face covering is essential to communication.
  • While obtaining a service that requires temporary removal of the face covering.
  • While sleeping.
  • When necessary to confirm the person’s identity.
  • When federal or state law prohibits wearing a face covering or requires the removal of a face covering.
  • When unable to put on a face covering due to an emergency.

MyNorthwest News

16-month-old bothell...

Frank Sumrall

16-month-old taken from legal guardian’s home, WSP says there’s concern for her safety

A 16-month-old child was taken from the home of their legal guardian in Bothell Thursday morning, WSP stated.

15 minutes ago

volcano oregon...

Frank Sumrall

UW: Underwater volcano off Oregon coast could erupt any day

An underwater volcano 300 miles off the coast of Oregon is displaying signs of a potential eruption, University of Washington (UW) researchers found.

2 hours ago

REAL ID TSA...

Frank Sumrall

REAL ID deadline looms: WA residents face long DOL wait times

The deadline for a REAL ID is a week away, and wait times at the DOL are consistently more than an hour long across the Puget Sound region.

3 hours ago

king county sue detainees...

³ÉÈËXÕ¾ 7 News Staff

36 former detainees sue King County, alleging decades of sexual abuse at juvenile detentions

A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of 36 former juvenile detention detainees, alleging that King County officials and employees "perpetrated or enabled decades of systemic sexual abuse at those facilities.

4 hours ago

Photo: Police investigate a Tacoma double shooting....

Frank Lenzi

Leaders concerned over spike in youth homicides in Tacoma

Leaders in Tacoma are concerned about a spike in homicides involving youth, both as victims and as perpetrators.

4 hours ago

flood sea-level rise pacific northwest...

MyNorthwest Staff

Study warns of significant Pacific Northwest floods from earthquakes and sea-level rise

​The combination of tectonic activity and climate change could significantly increase flood risks in the region, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). 

4 hours ago

Washington updates mask rules now that state has reopened