During a Thursday's press conference at the state Capitol in Olympia, Gov. Jay Inslee declared an end to Washington's COVID-19 state of emergency after more than two years.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday that all COVID-19 emergency proclamations will be rescinded by Oct. 31 including the requirement that all health care workers and education workers be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
During a Thursday's press conference at the state Capitol in Olympia, Gov. Jay Inslee declared an end to Washington's COVID-19 state of emergency after more than two years.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday that all COVID-19 emergency proclamations will be rescinded by Oct. 31 including the requirement that all health care workers and education workers be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Provided graphic/Gov. Jay Inslee's office
WENATCHEE — The state’s COVID-19 state of emergency officially ends Oct. 31 along with the vaccination requirement for health care workers falling into the hands of employers, following an announcement from Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday.
Gov. Jay Inslee
Provided photo
“Ending this order does not mean we take (COVID-19) less seriously or will lose focus on how this virus has changed the way we live,” Inslee said in a statement. “We will continue our commitments to the public’s well-being, but simply through different tools that are now more appropriate for the era we’ve entered.”
Inslee said he was choosing to lift the state of emergency now, in part, because of the wide availability of new COVID treatments and people’s “ability, to a significant degree, to protect themselves.”
The state had already rolled back most COVID-19 orders before the governor’s announcement, including cancelling indoor mask mandates and loosening vaccine verification requirements.
A state Department of Health order requiring face coverings in health care and long-term care settings, as well as some correctional facilities, will remain in place, according to the governor’s office.
Vaccination will remain a condition of employment for most state agencies, according to the news release.
Vaccination requirements for health care and education workers will end along with every other COVID-19 proclamation, but employers can still require them if they choose, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
Several health care providers in Chelan and Douglas counties are still planning next steps in response to the governor’s announcement.
Manuel Navarro, Columbia Valley Community Health’s new CEO, said in an email that the incident command team will continue to meet and discuss the future, but had nothing to share Friday.
Lake Chelan Health has not had an opportunity to discuss its position regarding future vaccination requirements and the ending of the COVID-19 emergency proclamations.
“It is a step forward for healthcare facilities to have the ability to recruit much needed healthcare staff to take care of their communities,” said Agustin Benegas, Lake Chelan Health spokesperson. “We have come a long way in adapting to increased safety measures and now living with COVID-19 and patient safety will continue to be priority for Lake Chelan Health.”
At Confluence Health, North Central Washington’s largest health care provider, the executive leadership is currently reviewing the governor’s announcement, according to Adam MacDonald, Confluence Health spokesperson.
“Our commitment and dedication to our patients and the health and welfare of North Central Washington remains unchanged,” MacDonald said in an email.
A group of 100 former Confluence Health employees filed a lawsuit in Douglas County Superior Court in April after the provider upheld the state’s vaccine mandate, which took effect in October 2021.
Confluence enforced the state’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, resulting in 23 resignations, 138 rejected exempted applications and 229 approved exemption applications. It’s unclear yet whether Thursday’s announcement will impact the lawsuit.
State public leaders and local health officials continue to emphasize the importance of vaccines and masks in keeping communities safe.
COVID-19 cases in Chelan and Douglas counties have been declining, according to Chelan-Douglas Health District data.
The 14-day case rate in the two counties was 281.78 per 100,000 as of Thursday. About a month ago, the rate was 444.05 per 100,000 on Aug. 12.
Some emergency orders will be lifted by Oct. 27 as they relate to waivers for various requirements for things like training, testing and certification for health care professionals due to high-level of need for staffing, according to the news release.
The state Department of Health and the Department of Social and Health Services is providing assistance as providers transition back into these statutory requirements.
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