The Clallam County public health order requiring masking in indoor, public places will be rescinded earlier than planned. That order will now lift on Friday, March 11 at 11:59 p.m., the same time the State of Washington lifts its masking order, also ahead of schedule.

The date changes follow updated guidance the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued last week.

“I am making this difficult decision because I don’t believe that we can feasibly maintain our mask mandate longer than the state,” said Dr. Allison Berry, Health Officer for Clallam County. “However, I continue to strongly recommend masking in indoor spaces until our case rates reach a safer threshold.”

The current two-week case rate in Clallam County is 450 per 100,000 people. Dr. Berry recommends reaching a case rate of fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 people over a 14-day period before unmasking in indoor spaces. She recommends high-risk individuals wait until that rate drops below 50.

The health order that requires bar and restaurant patrons 12 and older to be fully vaccinated if dining indoors will lift on March 11 as well. Dr. Berry encouraged the community to support the decision of any businesses that choose to maintain a masking policy.