Gov. Inslee mandates mask for Yakima County amid hike in COVID-19 cases

OLYMPIA, Wash.-- On Saturday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that businesses in Yakima County will be required to make sure customers wear masks, in addition to employees having to wear masks.

On Friday, Yakima County confirmed 208 new cases of COVID-19. It was the second time this month that single-day counts exceeded 200.

Patients have had to be transferred out of Yakima's Virginia Mason Hospital to other facilities in the region because Virginia Mason has exceeded its capacity for ICU and other beds due to the surge in COVID-19 patients.

Dr. John Weisman with the Department of Health says caring for COVID-19 patients requires more manpower, and Virginia Mason is unable to adequately meeting the staffing requirements of the current caseload.

"In the next few days, I will issue a proclamation mandating requiring facial coverings in public spaces in Yakima County," Inslee said in a video conference Saturday. "This is a legal requirement, it is not just a suggestion."

Inslee said the infection rate in Yakima County is 27 times higher than the rate of infection in King County, a situation he says calls for serious action.

Yakima County is one of just three counties, along with Benton and Franklin Counties, that are still fully in Phase One of reopening. Chelan and Douglas Counties are in a modified Phase One that allows reduced capacity reopening for restaurants, personal services like salons and barbers, and, professional services like accountants and insurance agencies, as well as all construction.

Yakima County has yet to submit a variance application for consideration of moving into Phase 2 or even a modified Phase 1.