Outdoor Mask Orders Begin Tuesday In King, Pierce Counties

SEATTLE — New mask orders go into effect Tuesday for large outdoor events in Washington's two most populous counties, requiring face coverings for residents 5 and older at any gathering with 500 or more attendees, regardless of vaccination status. Top health officials from King and Pierce counties announced the new mandates last week as an added layer of protection amid the latest surge in COVID-19 cases and record-high hospitalizations, fueled by the more infectious delta variant.

"We will continue to adapt our response measures to the reality of the evolving COVID-19 outbreak," said Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer for King County. "The Delta variant is more contagious through the air, causes more severe illness in adults, and we have a high level of community transmission in King County and Washington state. Outdoors is much safer than indoors, but there is risk even outdoors currently when large numbers of people are in close, prolonged contact."

New mask requirements for large outdoor events:

• Face masks are required at any outdoor event with 500 or more people in attendance. This requirement applies to all vaccinated and unvaccinated people, 5 years of age and older.
• Masks are strongly recommended for everyone 5 years of age and older – both vaccinated and unvaccinated – in any other outdoor setting where people cannot remain at least 6 feet apart from non-household members.

In waiting until after Labor Day weekend to formally implement the order, Duchin said officials wanted to give venues and organizers enough time to make the needed adjustments to comply, including things like installing new signage.

Pierce County followed suit the day after King County's order was announced, issuing a virtually identical mandate Friday afternoon, also set to take effect Sept. 7.

"We are taking this step to ensure the most vulnerable people in our community do not become infected or spread COVID-19," said Dr. Anthony L-T Chen, director of health at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. "The highly contagious Delta variant is causing a rapid increase of positive COVID-19 cases and leading to increased hospitalizations and deaths. Wearing masks in crowds of 500 or more will reduce community transmission and protect children under the age of 12, people who are immunocompromised and unvaccinated adults."

Both counties' orders will remain in place until further notice and join a statewide mask order for indoor public spaces, which took effect in late August.

Read more about both orders on the Public Health - Seattle & King County and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department blogs.

Related coverage:

• New King County Dashboard Charts COVID Risk By Vaccination Status
• Despite Delta, Breakthrough Cases Remain Rare In Washington
• As School Begins, WA Works To Keep Students COVID Safe
• WA COVID Counts, Hospitalization Rates Remain At Record Highs