Local health officials strongly urge face coverings be worn while in public

Meghan Walker Ballard

Starting May 18, King County residents will be strongly urged to wear face coverings while in most public settings.

King County Public Health announced the mandate on Monday, saying that all residents should wear a face covering when in a public or confined space where you may be within six feet of someone who doesn’t live with you.

Public Health says a covering isn’t needed when exercising outdoors, but only if you are able to consistently stay six feet away from other people.

They ask that people use or make cloth coverings, such as bandanas or scarves, instead of using surgical masks or N95 respirators, which are most useful for healthcare workers.

King County is distributing 115,000 face coverings and masks through community-based organizations, and the City of Seattle is working with organizations to distribute over 45,000 cloth face coverings to vulnerable communities, including people experiencing homelessness, older adults, and staff at food banks.

Here are some guidelines from officials:

  • Your mask should cover your nose and mouth at all times.
  • Always wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before you put on a face covering and after removing it.
  • Change your face covering when it gets moist.
  • Wash your face covering after each use.

For more information, visit King County’s website about the directive.

31 thoughts to “Local health officials strongly urge face coverings be worn while in public”

  1. Would have been a great idea in March. Now; it’s probably too much too late.

    In a hundred years perhaps they will think of it sooner.

      1. Now THAT’s some great Michael Moore 3rd grade logic right there. A Cadillac will crash today and we aren’t banning Cadillacs, are we? Razor blades are legal, right? Ever speed on I-5? Did we shutter WA state 2 years ago when the Canadian fires sent massive smoke to us? Did you wear your face diaper then too? Do you like being scared and afraid all the time? Stay home, go broke. Beautiful.

  2. Sweet… M, W, F I’m going full Burka; Tu, Th Hanibal Lector, and Sa Su Marshawn Beast mode training mask. Every day is Halloween!

    1. I’m sure all the folks here took the ice bucket challenge and all got a tattoo as well. We should ban razor blades too because 1 child may find 1.

    1. Finding disposable masks is pretty hard right now, but you can find reusable cotton ones online. I did see some disposable ones at Bartell’s the other day but they were almost gone and very expensive. I have also heard that Costco is expecting a large shipment some time this week to be available in stores, but again I bet they become scarce very fast.

    2. make your own, no sewing machine needed, buy off ETSY or Amazon, but most important, STOP whining. Can you do something for yourself? Bernie is TOAST so give me give me free free is over.

    1. As someone who gets all his opinions and views on reality from the angry men on the radio, maybe you can give us a write up on what it’s like to believe everything the media tells you?

    2. For a dude with a history of substance abuse, who ordained himself monarch of an imaginary kingdom of paint, you may want to stash your crazy when calling people out for being responsible members of the community.

    3. Whoa, this video is some serious conspiracy theory nonsense. Plus, dude says ‘irregardless’, which is a nonstandard synonym for regardless.

    2. This is a directive from King County Public Health. It has nothing to do with the legislature. There are no criminal penalties or fees for refusing to be a decent human being and wearing a face covering.

      1. Non-elected officials do not have the authority to make public policy. There isn’t any accountability. Nobody wants to live in an authoritarian society because eventually they will decide something you disagree with.

        1. I’ll place a copy of the title of the article here since it appears you didn’t read it at the top of the page…

          “Local health officials strongly urge face coverings be worn while in public”

        2. You really need to calm down, and do a little research. King County Public Health has the authority to “strongly urge” you to take reasonable precautions to keep yourself and your community safe. This isn’t a law. FFS. Read.

          1. It’s cute when people try to throw these fake “muh freedoms” tantrums and they (1) have no clue what’s actually going on and (2) don’t actually know what their freedoms are or when they’re actually being taken.

            What’ they HAVE been showing us is that they’re gullible individuals sustainable to being gaslighted.

  8. Better safe than sorry ! You can make a scarf into a face mask and wear it like a old fashioned bank robber or just pretend to be ANTIFA rioters !

  9. Very proud of the leadership our local and state public health professionals have been demonstrating during this pandemic. We’re all healthier as a result. Thank you!

  11. Oh, it’s such a controversial issue. I’m not sure that this measure will help to prevent disease spread. Being a medical college student, I’ve done a research on how to stay safe working with ill people; of course, I’ve used https://studyhippo.com/essays-on/nursing/ to get more information. Also, I’ve communicated with nurses, and some think it can help an ill person wear a face covering. In other cases, it does not help.

  12. Even so, mental health is just as important as physical health for everyone. I never imagined I’d have mental health issues, but I do because of bad condition. Recently, I discovered some interesting and useful information go now there. I sincerely hope that it will also assist me in resolving issues.

  13. Even so, mental health is just as important as physical health for everyone. I never imagined I’d have mental health issues, but I do because of bad condition. Recently, I discovered some interesting and useful information go now there. I sincerely hope that it will also assist me in resolving issues.

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