Updated: Washington sees 5th wave of COVID. This is what the state now recommends on masking
CORRECTION: The state has not recommended vaccinated people wear a mask indoors to prevent COVID-19 nor did Dr. Scott Lindquist link an increase in COVID hospitalizations or deaths to the delta variant as mentioned in an earlier version of this story.
As cases of the COVID-19 delta variant rise in Washington state, the state’s top epidemiologist is recommending that everyone should avoid places with poor ventilation. Masks, while not recommended, remain effective, Dr. Scott Lindquist said at an online press conference Friday, July 23.
The state is seeing a “fifth wave” of the new coronavirus, Lindquist said.
The state increase is seen in rolling case counts going from 360 on July 5 to 589 on July 14, the dates for which the most complete data is available.
The majority of cases, hospitalizations and deaths can be prevented by people getting vaccinated, Linquist said. “We need to vaccinate so we can minimize the people who are susceptible.”
Lindquist said the Department of Health and Gov. Jay Inslee aren’t reinstating mask mandates or other measures yet.
“But stay tuned,” Lindquist said. “In a county where we’re seeing an increase in the delta variant, it makes sense. I think it is going to be the new norm.”
The state does continue to recommend that those who are unvaccinated continue to wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Seattle and King County health department is recommending that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks in indoor public settings such as grocery, retail, theaters and entertainment establishments, according to its website.
Even though almost all the hospitalizations are among unvaccinated people who contracted COVID-19, Lindquist acknowledged that there are some “breakthrough” cases of vaccinated people getting sick.
“We know the vaccines are not 100% effective,” Lindquist said. “So we expect some breakthrough cases. When we look at the breakthrough cases, they’re not above the numbers that we would expect.”
This story was originally published July 23, 2021 at 12:26 PM with the headline "Updated: Washington sees 5th wave of COVID. This is what the state now recommends on masking."
