12/17/2023 0 Comments Live inslee press conference![]() ![]() More than 87% of King County residents ages 12 years and older are fully vaccinated, and vaccination and booster rates continue to increase. Just a day earlier, King County announced that it will end the county's vaccine verification policy to enter restaurants, bars, theaters and gyms on March 1.Įxecutive Dow Constantine said that new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are decreasing. ![]() Vaccine verification policy ending in King County Superintendent Reykdal joined Inslee at the news conference to discuss next steps for mask requirements in schools. Umair Shah petitioning for an end to masks in the classroom, as well as making contact tracing the responsibility of the Department of Health. Inslee, Superintendent Chris Reykdal and Health Secretary Dr. On Wednesday, 49 superintendents signed a letter to Gov. ![]() ![]() In recent days, Eastern Washington school districts have also voiced their opposition to mask mandates, with districts in Kettle Falls and Richland voting to end those rules. This impacts restaurants, bars, gyms, churches, and schools. Jay Inslee announced on Thursday that the indoor mask mandate would be lifted on March 21. Washington mask mandate: Students will no longer have to wear masks as of March 21 Rochelle Walensky said during a White House briefing Wednesday that the government is contemplating a change to its mask guidance in the coming weeks. New Mexico’s governor announced Thursday that the statewide mask mandate there was being lifted, effective immediately, leaving Hawaii as the only state that has not indicated when its indoor mask mandates may be rescinded.ĬDC Director Dr. A face covering requirement for outdoor events of 500 or more people was imposed in September, but Inslee announced last week that mandate would lift on Friday.ĭemocratic governors in several states have already ended or set dates to end masking rules in public places or in schools. Last May, the state changed its requirements to align with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which allowed vaccinated people to go without a mask indoors, but that exception was rescinded in August of 2021 after the delta variant emerged. “It’s something we will consider,” he said.Like the rest of the country, Washington - which first imposed a statewide mask mandate in June 2020 - has seen a steady decline in both cases and hospitalizations since the height of the omicron surge last month. Inslee also hinted about new vaccination mandates for the state’s public school students. “This is not about the policies, it’s about the way it’s being implemented,” he said. Mercier said the state Legislature should assert itself, even if it ends up codifying similar policies. When it is, it leads to what we saw in the governor’s interview where he thinks he alone has the wisdom to determine how everybody should be living without the input of the Legislature.” “The executive has to have emergency powers to respond to a crisis, but it should be time-limited, not indefinite. “We are being governed by press conference,” said Jason Mercier, director of the Washington Policy Center's Center for Government Reform. Had we had the same death rates as other states, like Idaho, we would have had thousands of more people lose their lives.”Ĭritics of Inslee’s orders say he should cede authority to the rest of Washington’s government. The reason I know that is, if you compare our death rates to other states. “Had we not taken the actions that we had in the state of Washington, we would have lost thousands of more people to COVID. “Not only has it been constitutional, it has saved thousands of lives,” he said. Inslee credited his actions with saving lives, comparing Washington to nearby Idaho. “I’m assuming many of my decisions will continue to be challenged.” “We need to act right now, and we need to act against a pandemic,” he said, noting he has faced around 30 lawsuits challenging his power. Inslee said the Legislature not only gives him the ability, but the responsibility, to enact his executive orders. McClanahan cited a local judge’s op-ed criticizing Inslee for not including the state Legislature in his executive order. "There is only one person in the state of Washington who has the capability to save those lives right now, and it happens to be the governor of the state of Washington," Inslee said Wednesday. Inslee responded by giving his decisions sole credit for saving the lives of fellow Washingtonians. The TV host questioned Inslee, well into his second year of governing by emergency declarations, about dozens of legal challenges to his executive authority. In an interview with TVW’s Mike McClanahan, Inslee gave an in-depth look into his perspective when it comes to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Jay Inslee said he singlehandedly is saving lives with his powers as the state’s top executive. ![]()
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