Why Washington state is seeing a 4th COVID-19 wave • 7 min read Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announces 2-week pause in reopening plan The pause comes as the state endures another concerning upswing in cases. Elaine Thompson/AP, FILE Even as COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out throughout the U.S., Washington state is reeling from a fourth wave of infections, with hospitalizations surging for people age 40 to 59 -- and among many much younger. Virus cases and hospitalizations have steadily risen since March, and Gov. Jay Inslee announced last week the state had entered its fourth wave. Earlier in April, he'd rolled back three counties to Phase 2 of reopening restrictions.