Washington's indoor mask mandate is set to expire. Here's what to know.

Most components of Washington’s indoor mask mandate will expire at midnight.

While that probably feels like a milestone in our state’s fight against the coronavirus, we’ve been in this situation before.

In June of last year, the state altered a mandate that had been in place since the onset of the pandemic to allow vaccinated people to go without masks. Then, the delta surge hit. Hospitalizations and deaths began to climb, and an indoor mask mandate for all Washington citizens was back in place by August.

Now, as the state prepares to terminate that mandate, Gov. Jay Inslee’s office is warning that a similar mandate could be reinstated should another variant of the virus ravage Washington.

“[The] governor has said that if we face another significant variant that is overwhelming our hospitals and putting lives at risk, he would implement measures that are proven to work at curbing infection,” spokesperson Mike Faulk said. “Masks are proven to work at curbing infection.”

Whether that will happen remains unclear. But for now, here’s what Washington’s coronavirus policies will look like going forward.

Masks

Masks will no longer be required in most indoor facilities. That includes K-12 schools, child care centers, restaurants, bars, libraries, places of worship, gyms, grocery stores and retail establishments.

They’re also no longer required at large indoor and outdoor events.

However, masks will be required in health care facilities, in congregate living spaces and on public transit. That includes hospitals, doctors’ and dentists’ offices, pharmacies, long-term care facilities, jails, prisons, taxis and ride-hailing vehicles.

Local governments can continue requiring masks in their communities if they choose to. Individual school districts, stadiums and businesses can also implement their own masking requirements, and everyone entering those places will be required to comply.

Vaccine verification

As of now, there is no statewide vaccination verification requirement in place. The state ended one such requirement for large events earlier this month.

King County, the largest county in Washington, also ended its vaccine verification policy for indoor businesses. Similar policies currently in place in Clallam and Jefferson counties are set to expire March 12.

Just like with masking requirements, individual businesses and other independent entities can implement their own vaccine verification policies if they choose to.

Schools

After Inslee announced the end of the indoor mask mandate last month, he tasked the state Department of Health with issuing updated coronavirus guidance for K-12 schools. That guidance was released this week.

Students and staff are required to stay home if they begin experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. The department says that anyone who experiences symptoms should get tested or see a health care provider.

If a student or staff member tests positive for the virus, they’re required to isolate at home for 10 days regardless of their vaccination status.

However, they can return to school after five days if their symptoms have improved (or if they were asymptomatic to begin with) and if they’ve been without a fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. If they intend to return to school after five days, they must first pass a COVID-19 test — antigen or at-home — and wear a mask during all school days that fall within the remainder of their 10-day isolation period.

Any student or staff member who reports or shows symptoms while in school is required to immediately isolate from others and return home. Students who need to wait for a ride will be placed in a designated isolation space on school grounds. They’re to be referred to a diagnostic testing center as soon as possible.

Individual districts can implement their own masking policies, but they will not be required by the state. All staff members have already been required to be vaccinated or have received an exemption because of the vaccine mandate Inslee issued last year.

Vaccines are not yet required for students, but talks at the state level about implementing such a requirement are ongoing.

The state Department of Health’s full guidance for schools can be found here.