Washington Gov. Jay Inslee ordered businesses not to serve customers who don’t wear masks Thursday in response to rising coronavirus cases around the state.
The emergency order expands rules established for Yakima County, a hotspot for the virus. Inslee’s order also blocks counties from entering the next phase of re-opening.
Confirmed COVID-19 cases have been rising in Washington over the past two weeks, returning to peak levels reported in April.
More than 34,000 Washington residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 1,300 have died from complications associated with the virus, according to the latest state data.
Inslee instituted a statewide order for mandatory face coverings last week, and on Saturday he took steps to slow the reopening of the economy in some counties.
