The Washington State Department of Health has announced that the Secretary of Health’s mask order will end April 3. This means masks no longer will be required under state rules for healthcare, long-term care, and adult correctional facilities.
The Snohomish County Health Department is aligned with the state guidance and requirements around masking. That guidance still recommends masking in healthcare settings, and the County Health Department also recommends masking in those settings even when not required. Healthcare facilities should maintain and follow infection prevention policies, and healthcare practices or other businesses may choose to require masks in their facilities.
While the public health emergency status is ending, we’re still seeing COVID transmission in the community. Healthcare spaces should be safe for patients and providers. Masking is one of the measures we have available to reduce the spread of illness, along with vaccination and maximizing air quality and ventilation in those spaces.
Read the full Washington State Department of Health news release here.