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As Washington braces for a fourth wave of coronavirus and spread from a more infectious variant, Gov. Jay Inslee is urging residents to continue to follow health rules, and take the vaccine.
Inslee noted that half of virus cases now are more infectious variants of COVID-19.
“This is bad news for us because these are more transmittable. Each person with the same disease can transmit it more easily. The science is highly suggestive that this is a significant reason the virus is now increasing in our state.”
He said there are vaccination appointments all over the state and noted that 300,000 of the state’s most at risk residents -- those over 65 -- still aren’t vaccinated.
Though state officials are concerned about a fourth wave, they are not yet considering more health restrictions for counties.
Earlier this month, three counties -- Whitman, Pierce and Cowlitz -- were all put under more restrictions. Since then Spokane, and other counties have similar case counts, and may fail the requirements to stay open when they are assessed on May 3.
Inslee declined to say which counties would face more restrictions, saying the decision would be based on their numbers.
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