COVID-19: Washington State is in an "explosive situation"
A new Statewide Situation Report shows that Washington State is in an “explosive situation,” which led the governor to announce stricter face covering and other prevention directives. Transmission of coronavirus continues to accelerate across most of the state. Cases are increasing in both younger and older age groups, and are growing fastest among 20-29 year olds. Hospitalization rates are rising throughout the state. There is no progress in slowing the spread, which is substantially higher than the state’s previous peak in March.
In a press release titled “COVID-19 is on a path to runaway growth in Washington State,” the Washington Department of Health summarizes the findings and implores people to continue strict face covering, social distancing, sanitizing and other measures. “In these trends, we are seeing the impact of our collective decisions. We are jeopardizing the gains we made as a state with the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order and the actions each one of us takes now will determine what happens next,” said Secretary of Health John Wiesman, who stated that face coverings are now required in all public and private settings when outside of the home and in proximity to others.
The secretary of health’s statewide face covering order now expands to require face coverings in any indoor setting outside of your home (not just public buildings) and expands the outdoor requirement to non-public settings when you can’t maintain six feet of distance from non-household members.
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