Clinician Advisory--COVID-19:
Governor Requires Vaccination for Healthcare Personnel
Local Health Officer Issues Directive for Masking in Public Indoor Spaces
Requested Action
- Be aware of Governor Inslee’s proclamation 21-14 issued on August 9, 2021. It requires credentialed healthcare providers and all other workers in health care settings to be fully vaccinated by October 18, 2021 (implying completion of a vaccine series by October 4). Note that the proclamation does not afford philosophical exemptions; it does afford accommodations for disability and sincerely held religious beliefs. See the proclamation for details and address your healthcare employer if you have questions.
- Be aware of the local health officer’s masking directive issued on August 10, 2021. It requires all people ≥5 years of age—regardless of vaccination status--to mask when in public indoor spaces. For the background, rationale, and details, see the directive itself and review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Science Brief: Community Use of Cloth Masks to Control the Spread of SARS-CoV-2.
Additional Resources