Washington was one of three states with no guidance on ending the mask mandate prior to the announcement.
New cases may peak in Washington this week, but the surge in hospitalizations will continue through February.
Washington hospitals are running out of options as the state takes the final measures to avoid crisis standards of care.
Thousands of complaints against a COVID testing company that started in an axe throwing lounge sparks multiple investigations.
Forecasts predict Washington hospitals will be completely overwhelmed with over 3,800 COVID patients by February.
Historic snowfall and record flooding has cutoff Western Washington from the rest of the United States.
An analysis of available data using models from the United Kingdom indicates Washington will run out of hospital resources by Jan 15.
Trevor Bedford predicts 50 percent of the United States will catch Omicron as official await a tidal wave of new cases.
Seattle will be one of the first cities in the United States to face the full force of the Omicron COVID variant.
Dr. Lindquist says, "This does not bode well to have an event this early with Omicron in Washington state."