New face mask rules, guidelines take effect Monday in Western Washington

SEATTLE – Beginning Monday, a new health directive from Public Health Seattle-King County will go into effect and “strongly urges” anyone who goes out in public to wear a face covering or mask aimed at curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“This directive should be used to educate, encourage and persuade individuals to wear face coverings,” said Dr. Jeffrey Duchin with the agency in an online briefing announcing the move. “It does not create grounds for residents or law enforcement to stop, detain, issue a citation, arrest, intimidate, harass any individual who doesn’t comply with it.”

While it can’t and won’t be enforced, businesses can choose to turn people away if they aren’t wearing one.

“We know that a number of establishments have established those rules and they are allowed to require people to wear masks to come into their facilities,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan.

https://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/New-face-mask-rules-guidelines-take-effect-15277570.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletterspi&utm_term=spi