King County directive for residents to wear cloth face coverings
From the Seattle Times
King County is directing people to wear cloth face coverings in certain settings to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus as more businesses reopen and activities resume, officials said Monday.
But policy won’t take effect until May 18, and the county won’t enforce it with tickets or arrests. Instead, officials will rely on voluntary compliance in Seattle and throughout the county, they said.
The new directive by Jeff Duchin, the county’s public health officer, says people should cover their noses and mouths in indoor public spaces, such as supermarkets, and in outdoor public spaces, such as farmers markets, where social distancing guidelines are difficult to follow.
County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan joined Duchin for a virtual news conference to publicize the policy, which will stay in effect as long as the health officer deems necessary.
“It is critical we continue to slow the rate of transmission even as we increase economic activities, so that our recovery can be a one-way trip,” Constantine said, warning a second surge in cases could lead to another widespread shutdown.
“Probably 95% of the people in Seattle and King County have not yet been exposed,” Durkan added, lending her support to the directive.
There won’t be penalties for people who don’t wear face coverings and law enforcement won’t be involved, Duchin said.
Some people can’t wear face coverings for medical reasons. Some also may worry about being subjected to racial profiling and biased treatment while wearing masks, Constantine said. Some Black men, in particular, have raised that concern.
The policy won’t apply to deaf and hard-of-hearing people who rely on facial and mouth movements to communicate.
Masks shouldn’t be worn by children under 2 and should be worn by children between 2 and 12 only with supervision by adults, according to Public Health – Seattle & King County.
“We are strongly encouraging King County residents to wear masks” in crowded public spaces, Duchin said when asked whether the directive amounted to a requirement.
“Like most of our public health interventions, we need most people to comply with this, and the more the better,” he added later. “However, it’s not essential that every one of us comply for this to work, so if there are a few who can’t or don’t, this will still be an effective intervention if most of us do.”
In addition to supermarkets and farmers markets, the county’s directive will apply to: pharmacies, convenience stores, pet-supply stores, auto-supply stores, hardware and home-improvement stores, garden stores, office-supply stores, home-appliance stores, carry-out restaurants, cannabis shops, tobacco and vape shops.
The policy will apply in taxis and rideshare vehicles and aboard public transportation, including buses and light rail.
King County Metro bus passengers will be “required” to wear face coverings, but riders without them won’t actually be turned away, Metro said. Instead, they’ll hear recorded reminders and security officers will “offer guidance.” Sound Transit, which provides service across three counties, will add new signage urging riders to wear face coverings, but will not enforce the directive, a spokesman said.
