All people are required to wear masks when indoors in all King County buildings, facilities, structures, and vehicles, effective Tuesday, August 17. The directive applies to employees and all persons entering county facilities including all members of the public, contractors, volunteers, and others entering county facilities.

King County’s employee mask policy is updated as follows:

• If you are working indoors or in an enclosed space with others (for example, multiple people in a vehicle) you must wear a mask whether or not you have been fully vaccinated.
• If you are working outdoors, regardless of vaccine status, you may only remove your mask when you are working at least six feet from others.
• Some employees are required to wear masks at all times while working under the state and CDC guidance due to the nature of their work. This includes employees in correctional facilities, homeless shelters, schools, public transportation, long-term care, and healthcare settings.

If an employee has a medical condition that impacts the employee’s ability to wear a mask, they should contact their Human Resources Manager.

The Delta variant of COVID-19 is far more contagious and is spreading twice as quickly as the original strain. Furthermore, people who are infected with it, including some vaccinated people with breakthrough infections, carry around much more virus in their nose and throat. Wearing a high quality, well-fitting mask will help us stop the spread of COVID-19 and its dangerous variants, including Delta.

The most important tool for limiting the spread of COVID-19 and protecting everyone in our community is getting vaccinated. If you haven’t already been vaccinated, you can find out where to get your shot and find answers to your questions at www.kingcounty.gov/vaccine.