Health officials say it is time to mask up

If you’ve been a little lax with masking over the past few months, health officials in Washington state are urging a change in behavior.

Dozens of hospital leaders and county health officers from around the state are urging people to once again become diligent about masking in public indoor spaces.

“This joint statement from a broad coalition of public health and healthcare professionals is an indication of our shared level of concern. We hope people share that concern and do what they can to help reduce the risk of this situation becoming even worse over the coming weeks,” Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County, and a signatory to the joint statement, said via email.

The plea for a return to widespread masking comes as the state is being hit hard by multiple viruses.

Children’s hospitals have seen an unprecedented number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases in recent months, with many operating well over capacity.

In the past few weeks flu cases have also begun to surge, with 26 deaths, including three children, already reported in the state.

That’s equal to the total number of deaths reported during the entirety of last flu season, according to state Department of Health data.

In addition, Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are ticking back up once again with the state reporting 449 people hospitalized during the week of Nov. 20.

“We don’t want to see our hospitals in full blown crisis. There are simple, effective steps that can and should be taken community wide to reduce serious illnesses and healthcare system impacts during this respiratory virus season,” Duchin said.

Duchin and others are asking people to wear high-quality, well-fitting masks when around others in indoor spaces.

Dr. Helen Chu, an infectious diseases physician with UW Medicine, agrees it’s a good time for people to mask up and said there are some settings where it will have the most impact.

“In these crowded spaces, when you’re sick, when you’re around people who are likely to be sick, at gatherings with vulnerable people like young children,” Chu said.

In some communities, including Los Angeles, officials are talking about possibly bringing back a mask mandate. But that’s not on the horizon at the state level, or in King County, according to health officials.

There’s also no specific threshold that would trigger a mandate at the state or county level.

Officials say they’re monitoring disease spread and the impact on the health-care system.

Beyond masking, Chu said it’s also important for people to pay attention to ventilation, wash hands regularly, and get vaccinated.

Many of Washington’s youngest residents will soon have access to updated Covid-19 boosters. Federal authorities signed off this week on omicron-specific shots for kids aged 6 months to 5 years.

Doses are expected to begin arriving in the state the week of Dec. 12.

Health officials urge families to stay up to date on flu vaccines and Covid-19 shots.