Washington state enacting mask mandate for large outdoor events

Washington state is enacting a mask mandate for large outdoor events due to the spike in coronavirus cases.

Gov. Jay Inslee (D) announced Thursday the mandate would begin on Sept. 13. The Seattle Times reported it would apply to both vaccianted and unvaccinated people.

“Today I announced that, starting September 13, facial coverings will be required for large outdoor events with 500 or more attendees,” the governor posted on Twitter. 

Today I announced that, starting September 13, facial coverings will be required for large outdoor events with 500 or more attendees. pic.twitter.com/riHro6q5SL

— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) September 9, 2021

In a press conference announcing the measure, Inslee said there were more than 4,200 new coronavirus cases on Thursday and 59 deaths from the virus, The Seattle Times reported.

Hospitals are also seeing an influx of patients due to the virus as the highly-contagious delta variant has caused mayhem throughout the country.

“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 said.

“So we need more people to think a little less about ‘me’ and a little more about ‘we,’” he added.

The state has had more than 590,000 reported coronavirus cases throughout the pandemic with almost 6,800 deaths, data from Johns Hopkins University shows. Washington has 62 percent of its residents fully vaccinated.

One Washington county is bringing in a refrigeration trailer as the number of deaths from the coronavirus has overcrowded its morgue. 

The outdoor mask mandate is on top of the indoor mask mandate the state already has in place.