Lewis County Health Officer reports new state facemask recommendations
Lewis County Health Officer Dr. Joe Wiley, MD.
CHEHALIS – Lewis County Public Health and Social Services reports the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has announced an end to the universal mask requirements in healthcare, long-term care, and adult correctional facilities for people age 5 and older, beginning April 3.
“It will be up to each office, hospital and other health care facilities as to whether they discontinue masking or what situations they feel it is appropriate to require masking,” Lewis County Health Officer Dr. Joe Wiley, MD said. “If any individual desires to mask in public, for whatever reason, they may exercise their freedom to do so. One should consider masking in public if they have a respiratory illness and are unable to remain isolated.”
DOH says COVID-19, RSV, and influenza disease rates and hospitalizations have continued to decline since the end of last year.
Several worker protection requirements enforced by the state’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) remain in effect, including that employees and contractors may choose to use facemasks or other personal protective equipment (PPE) on the job.
Learn more about the Washington Department of Health announcement.