��������

COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations continue to trend down throughout Washington state, giving hospitals some more breathing room as the omicron surge subsides.

But hospital leaders have concerns about the approaching end to statewide masking requirements and are encouraging people to mask indoors even after mandates lift.

Gov. Jay Inslee and public health officials on Monday  for the end of indoor masking requirements — to March 12.

“Until we have a few more months of really low cases and things are more certain, we ask that this practice be continued in a pragmatic way,” said Taya Briley, vice president of the Washington State Hospital Association, during a Tuesday news conference. “It’s an easy and compassionate thing to do.”