COVID-19: Stay-home order to expire but new rules, including face masks, announced
https://komonews.com/news/coronavirus/covid-19-states-stay-home-order-ends-monday-will-inslee-extend-it
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Jay Inslee said Friday that the state's controversial stay-home order will expire as planned on May 31 but he outlined new criteria that will allow more counties to move to the next phase in order to restart their economies, which skidded to a halt in order to contain the coronavirus.
"We have new, effective ways to fight this scourge," Inslee said. "As we begin to open up more businesses and enterprises in our state, we have new tools and we intend to use them."
Inslee announced that counties will be allowed on a case-by-case basis to advance to the next phase, a progression that will be approved by the state secretary with input from local officials.
"We're pleased we can give people more flexibility in this," he said.
As part of the new plan, the governor said as of June 8 workers will be required to wear face masks unless they work alone or don't have in-person contact with others.
Inslee said businesses could deny entrance to customers not wearing facial coverings, although he said that guideline has always "been the case."