Photo courtesy of AP/Elaine Thompson
(OLYMPIA) After over two years, It is officially the end of the COVID emergency order era.
Most of the rest of Governor Inslee’s rules regarding the virus expire today.
“I’m confident now that we have reached a significant milestone,” Inslee said when announcing an end to the state’s rules.
The governor credits the rules with saving several lives here in Washington.
Among the rules that remain in place after today: Many state agencies will keep their vaccine requirements. Vaccine requirements for college employees, local police and fire departments are gone, except for places like Seattle and King County, where this rule is being extended.
Mask requirements are history, except for in healthcare settings…but other healthcare rules like temporary suspensions of certain trainings are now gone.
“I think we are heading the right direction,” one man told our news partner KOMO 4.
Many scientific minds agree another variation of the virus is coming this winter, along with another wave of illness. Most believe this wave won’t end up with serious illness because of the number of people who are vaccinated and boosted.
