State broadens mask mandate

Gov. Jay Inslee says the state’s indoor mask mandate will be expanded starting Monday to include outdoor events with 500 or more attendees, regardless of vaccination status.

The new requirement comes days after a similar outdoor mask mandates took effect in the state’s two most populous counties, King and Pierce, due to rising coronavirus cases.

An indoor mask mandate, regardless of vaccination status, has been in place in Washington since Aug. 23.

Last month, Oregon was the first state to restore a statewide mask requirement for outdoor public areas where people are close together.