Mask mandate to start Monday in Jefferson County

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Face masks will be required in indoor public spaces starting Monday, Aug. 16 in Jefferson County, Dr. Allison Berry, health officer for Jefferson and Clallam counties, announced Friday. 

The move comes as the number of COVID-19 cases has spiked in Jefferson County amid the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant. COVID case rates have quadrupled in the last month in the county, rising from 47 to 197 cases per 100,000 residents.

Eight new COVID-19 cases were reported Friday in Jefferson County, for a total of 581 cases.

“Jefferson and Clallam counties are experiencing the highest rates of COVID-19 transmission that we ever have in this pandemic,” Berry said. 

“We are at a critical juncture and we must act fast to control transmission of this virus to keep our communities safe and functioning,” she added.

Berry signed an order Aug. 13 that requires anyone from age 5 and up to wear a cloth mask or more protective mask (such as surgical masks or KN95 masks) at all times when indoors in any publicly accessible or shared space in government offices and businesses, including hallways, stairways, meeting rooms, break rooms, restrooms, or any public area where they might encounter other individuals, regardless of vaccination status.

The mask mandate will remain in effect until the governor declares the public emergency related to COVID-19 has ended.

Employees of governments and businesses who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are not required to mask in the following scenarios: when within their own, non-shared office; at their workstation while not interacting with other employees or members of the public, and if their workstation is 6 feet from other people. 

For purposes of the new health order, “fully vaccinated” means that a person has received two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and 14 days have passed since the final dose. 

Health officials noted that as of Aug. 4, nearly 4.4 million Washingtonians — about 70 percent of those eligible and 58 percent of the total population — had initiated their vaccine series, leaving 2.1 million unvaccinated but eligible residents.

A total of 69 percent of Jefferson County residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Although this percentage is one of the highest in the state, thousands of people, including young children and those whose immune systems cannot fully respond, are still vulnerable, officials said.

“If you put on a mask today, you will make a difference today,” Berry said. 

Health officials said masks are not required, but are recommended, in outdoor settings where large groups are gathering close together. 

Masks are also recommended but not required for children between the ages of 2 and 5.