The end-emic phase is near? Washington's mask mandate ends soon

It's the end of the statewide indoor mask mandate as we know it.

That's not as catchy as R.E.M.'s original — nor as apocalyptic, for what it's worth — and not everyone feels fine. Let's try this again: It's the end of the legislative session as we know it. Now, they're playing our song.

The 2022 legislative session will wrap up on March 10, bringing an end to a short but jam-packed season for KUOW's Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins. The state's mask mandate will lift two days later on March 12. That's when political pressure will shift from state lawmakers to local officials and business owners.

They will still get to decide whether to have their own masking requirements in local jurisdictions and shops. And that means they'll bear the brunt of people annoyed with their choices, one way or another.

FEELING PRETTY PYSCHED?

Washington Governor Jay Inslee previously said the state's indoor mask mandate would lift on March 21, but he sped up the timeline to March 12 after the CDC put updated its guidance.

Inslee had been using hospitalizations to determine when the state could relax its rules; specifically, he wanted to see Covid hospitalizations drop to five per 100,000 people (it is currently 90.2 cases per 100,000 in King County). Now, in alignment with the CDC, the state is instead using disease activity as the key metric.

Some Washington counties still are in the CDC’s high activity category. But Inslee thinks by March 12, those counties will have dropped down to medium or low activity.

Even by Inslee's formerly-preferred metric, Washington state is doing better; the state is already down to nine hospitalizations per 100,000 people, according to the latest state data.

Inslee has not said what would have to happen to trigger the mask mandate again, but he did say the state is always watching for new variants. State Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah alluded to this when the governor moved up the mandate deadline.

"We know that things are getting better, but we also know the pandemic is not over," Shah said. "We will do everything we can to protect Washingtonians. We also want to just encourage you to do everything you can to continue to live your lives but to do so with health and safety in mind."

Bottom line: Don't throw out all your masks just yet. And keep your at-home Covid tests handy in case of another spike in cases. Each Washington household can now order two free test kits from the state each month now, while supplies last, here.

"I FEEL FINE"

Just because the statewide mandate is going away doesn't mean you can count on going mask-free everywhere. Business owners may set their own rules for customers and staff. You'll also still need to mask up in healthcare settings, like hospitals. Individual counties may also choose to set their own standards.

KUOW's Kate Walters has been following King County's plans; you can find more information as the pandemic turns endemic across the state on our Covid blog.

RELATED: Who will keep their masks on after the mandates end?

King County will lift the local mask orders at the same time the state requirement ends. Officials ask people to continue to “respect the rules of the room you're in” when it comes to masking after March 12. Individuals may choose to wear a mask whether they're required to or not; some people, like those who are immunocompromised, may still be at risk of contracting a serious case of Covid.

When it comes to schools, King County is leaving the decision in districts' hands. Some districts, like Mercer Island and Lake Washington, have already said masking will become optional when the state's mandate lifts.

Students will need to keep masking in Seattle Public Schools, though. In a statement, the district says all staff, students and visitors will still be required to wear a mask until further notice; the school district needs to negotiate with the educators' union, the Seattle Education Association, before making any permanent changes to that policy.

Seattle Education Association President Jennifer Matter says the union is in no rush to see masks go. She says some educators are immunocompromised, pregnant or parents to young kids who can't be vaccinated, and they want to center those voices when making this decision.

If the union has their say, Matter says mask requirements at SPS would lift no sooner than May 1.

MEANWHILE, IN OLYMPIA

With just about a week left in the 2022 legislative session, House and Senate Democrats still need to agree on a final supplemental budget — the update to the state’s current two-year budget.

They’re proposing significant new spending in key areas including K-12 education, behavioral health and to continue to address crises like a lack of affordable housing and homelessness.

There’s also been a lot of talk this session about emergency powers reform. A bill cleared the state Senate but hasn’t come up for a vote in the House yet.

Plus, lawmakers have been considering changes to some of last year’s police reform measures, a proposal that been met with pushback from some of the families of people who have been killed by the police.

And, of course, the big $16 billion transportation funding package that Democrats have rolled out has generated a lot of attention and some controversy. They'll have to settle the record on that before heading home next week, until 2023.

With just about a week left in the 2022 legislative session, House and Senate Democrats still need to agree on a final supplemental budget — the update to the state’s current two-year budget.

They’re proposing significant new spending in key areas, including K-12 education and behavioral health. Also, they continue to address crises like a lack of affordable housing and homelessness.

There’s also been a lot of talk this session about emergency powers reform. A bill cleared the state Senate, but hasn’t come up for a vote in the House yet.

Plus, lawmakers have been considering changes to some of last year’s police reform measures, a proposal that been met with pushback from some of the families of people who have been killed by the police.

And, of course, the big $16 billion transportation funding package that Democrats have rolled out has generated a lot of attention and some controversy. They'll have to settle the record on that before heading home next week, until 2023.