Mask mandate returns for large outdoor events in Washington state

Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announced that people attending outdoor events with 500 people or more will have to wear a mask, whether vaccinated or not, starting Monday.

The new, expanded mask mandate will apply to events such as fairs, concerts, and sporting events.

The new requirement comes on the heels of similar rules that took effect this week in King and Pierce Counties. It also follows reports of Covid-19 cases that have been associated with recent, large outdoor events like the Watershed Music Festival at the Gorge Amphitheatre and the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden, both in August.

Already, the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, which is underway this month, is requiring masks indoors and outdoors because of Pierce County’s requirement.

On August 18, Inslee announced a statewide indoor mask mandate for individuals age five and up amid rising case counts. Previously, only unvaccinated people were required to mask up in public, indoor settings. The order came as Washington saw a record number of Covid-19 hospitalizations, breaking the previous record set in December of 2020.

Also on August 18, Inslee expanded his previous vaccine mandate to include employees working in childcare, early learning, K-12 and higher education settings. Inslee had previously ordered most state employees and health care workers to be fully vaccinated by October 18.

Inslee’s new outdoor mask requirement follows a steep jump in Covid-19 cases in Washington during July and August, driven in large part by the highly contagious delta variant.

As of September 1, the state was reporting an average of 3,300 new cases a day compared to about 350 new cases per day at the end of June. At the same time, Covid-19 hospitalizations spiked from about three per day for every 100,000 people at the end of June, to around 19 per day at the end of August.

There are some signs that this “fifth wave” of Covid-19 has peaked, although public health officials warn the numbers could drop off and then rise again. According to the Department of Health, an estimated 67% of Washingtonians 12 and older are fully vaccinated.

During a press conference Thursday afternoon announcing the mandate, Inslee said he made the decision "because so many people have refused to become vaccinated."

The governor urged Washingtonians to get vaccinated against Covid as soon as possible, citing that 90% of Covid hospitalizations in the state are unvaccinated individuals, and implored people to consult their primary physicians about any concerns they may have about getting the shots.

"I've heard some people say that it's just sort of an individual decision; that is just so far from the truth," Inslee said. "The fact is, when you make a decision to not be vaccinated, it is not just about your health, it is about the health of everyone around you."

Inslee praised counties, such as Clallam and Jefferson, and individual businesses that are requiring proof of vaccination for restaurant and bar patrons. However, no decision has been made regarding whether such a rule will be implemented on the state level.

"These measures protect attendees, players, and staff and ultimately all of us," Inslee said. "It's the kind of measure we might consider on a wider basis as this pandemic increases. We are considering measures where the state can help move in this direction."