If you haven’t heard yet, due to increased case counts of COVID-19, the Washington State Secretary of Health has ordered mandatory face coverings while in public settings when 6 feet of social distancing cannot be achieved, and Proclamation 20-25.6 requires businesses to prohibit service to customers not wearing face coverings regardless of distancing (unless they are exempt by age or from a health condition). Please read the order and the proclamation as this affects us all in Soap Lake and across the state. Active community support of this protective measure is one of the simplest means of helping slow COVID-19 and keeping hospitals from being overwhelmed. Masks are available at City Hall and the Police Department while supplies last.
We have tried staying home but faced economic and psychological barriers to this solution. Now, across the globe, mask mandates are becoming common as it is currently our best option to do the difficult task of slowing the spread of COVID-19 while keeping our economy in motion and being able to get out more. For the sake of our health and for businesses who are already struggling with economic impacts from COVID-19, support them through this new order by taking the guesswork out of enforcement and penalties by simply wearing a mask when going into a business. Also note, local law enforcement officers need to be prepared to communicate with hard of hearing populations so they will not be wearing masks on patrol unless communicated to be OK or notified that a person has COVID-19 or shows symptoms of COVID-19.
Reasons for wearing a mask:
Slows the spread of COVID-19 and protects our vulnerable population.
Provides a safer opportunity to get out of the house and help the economy.
Supports local businesses and eases the difficult position they are in balancing safety and commerce.
Helps our first responders by simplifying the difficult position they are in providing health & safety.
It’s the law during this health pandemic.
Thank you all for your continued support in keeping our community as safe and healthy as we possibly can through these difficult time.
For more information about face coverings, please visit Grant County Health
See this poster on Masks too.