CENTRALIA Washington’s newest relaxation of COVID-19 mask guidance may represent a return to normal, but new mandates requiring employees to prove their vaccination status before working unmasked is facing blowback from Republican lawmakers.
State relaxes some emergency COVID-19 rules for ag workers
June 1, 2021
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YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) The state has relaxed some emergency rules so fully vaccinated farmworkers living in temporary housing no longer need to wear masks.
The state Department of Labor & Industries and the state Department of Health issued updated rules on Friday. That was after Washington Farm Labor Association Executive Director Dan Fazio and Washington Farm Bureau Chief Executive John Stuhlmiller last week raised concerns that farmworkers weren’t covered when the state decided fully vaccinated workers didn’t need to wear masks.
They complained the rules, implemented for the COVID-19 pandemic, increased costs while failing to protect workers.
Washington relaxes some emergency COVID-19 rules for ag workers koze.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from koze.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Washington now asking businesses to prove mask-less workers are vaccinated May 25, 2021 at 5:27 pm
A man holds a sign for fans to mask up during the game between the Seattle Sounders and the Atlanta United at Lumen Field on May 23, 2021, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Washington state is now requiring businesses to make sure employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 before they can work without a mask.
Two weeks ago, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said fully vaccinated people don’t need to wear masks both indoors and outdoors, many businesses were quick to drop their masking rules. Washington state adopted those same recommendations as well, though individual businesses and counties are allowed to continue requiring masks if they so choose.
Thurston County businesses chart their course for the economy reopening on June 30
The Olympian 4 hrs ago Rolf Boone and Martin Bilbao, The Olympian (Olympia, Wash.)
May 23 It s been one of the most difficult periods in U.S. history for the small business. But after months of starts and stops tied to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Jay Inslee announced earlier this month that, barring any major uptick in COVID-19 cases, the Washington economy will fully reopen on June 30.
Inslee also announced guidance for employers and employees in a proclamation on Friday, saying his proclamation further permits employers to continue to require that employees wear a face covering, regardless of vaccination status.