COVID cases are skyrocketing, in large part due to the Delta variant. The best way to protect everyone is to get vaccinated and wear a mask.

Today I announced a vaccine requirement working in K-12, most childcare and early learning, and higher education. It has been a long pandemic, and our students and teachers have borne their own unique burdens throughout. This virus is increasingly impacting young people, and those under the age of 12 still can’t get the vaccine for themselves. We won’t gamble with the health of our children.

Two weeks ago, I paused our Healthy Washington reopening plan because we saw a plateau in COVID-19 activity. That plateau has become a decline.

Because of that, I’m excited to announce a path to fully reopening our state by June 30 or sooner.
medium.com/wagovernor/ins… WA could reopen before June 30 if 70% of Washingtonians 16 and older initiate vaccination.

Right now, 57% of eligible Washingtonians have received their first dose and 43% are fully vaccinated.

If you haven’t scheduled your vaccination yet go to vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov.

The recent shootings in Atlanta and Boulder remind us that COVID-19 hasn’t stopped the crisis of gun violence. At the state or federal level, we must act to stop the preventable gun violence that happens every day, especially when easy access to firearms mixes with violence, hate and racism.

Today FEMA approved the state and the Yakima County Health District’s application for a mass vaccination site. READ: governor.wa.gov/news-media/fem… We are appreciative to @fema and our other federal partners for working with us to make significant additional resources available to the people of the Yakima Valley.

I stand today with our state’s Asian and Pacific Islander communities, which have come under increased racist attacks over the last year. This violent hate is not new – our Black, Indigenous and other communities of color have been victims of this insidious brand of cultural violence and white supremacy for centuries – but it remains no less urgent to defeat it.

Today, we’re taking action to make sure that every child in Washington state has an option for onsite learning. I will be issuing an emergency proclamation that will give every K-12 student the opportunity for on-site learning. This has been a long year for Washington’s children. More than half of our schools have returned to some form of in-person instruction, but there are still hundreds of thousands of students who have not had access to in-person learning.

It is good news that the White House is prioritizing all adults to be eligible for the COVID vaccine by May 1st. This will be crucial to fight the pandemic. Over the next six weeks, we will continue to ensure the vaccine is delivered equitably and focus on those most at risk. Our current vaccine priority remains: older adults, people who work in congregate settings such as grocery stores, farm workers and correctional facilities, people who are pregnant and those with disabilities.

Because of Washingtonians’ diligence and commitment in fighting COVID-19, we are moving forward with more economic activity in our state.

On March 22, every county in the state of Washington will move to Phase 3 of our reopening plan. Phase 3 means all indoor activities that are allowed now, can scale up. This means our restaurants, gyms and fitness centers, movie theaters, and some of the hardest hit businesses in Washington will be able to return to 50% capacity.

2020 brought unprecedented hardship – and unprecedented need – to Washingtonians. Now is not the time for cuts.

My ’21-‘23 budget proposal supports workers, businesses and families. It takes on racial/economic inequality. And it helps rebuild the nation's best economy. #waleg Families need support right now. My budget:

✅ Increases unemployment benefits
✅ Provides rent/foreclosure assistance
✅ Increases food assistance
✅ Invests in education and child care

The impacts of climate change have arrived in Washington.

We can - and must - rise to meet this challenge. Because left unchecked, this crisis will threaten everything we hold dear.

Today, I’m announcing the next steps to our climate commitment.

medium.com/wagovernor/ins… This year, Washington experienced harsh extremes, from record flooding in Walla Walla, to one of the most intense and dangerous fire seasons in the history of our state.

And we know this is only a preview of what will come if we don’t act.

https://twitter.com/GovInslee/status/1304536375937564672?s=20

We have a moral mandate to uproot systemic racism in our society. 2020 has yet again laid bare the cost of inaction.

I believe WA can be an anti-racist state. Today, I’m announcing concrete actions we should take to rise to that essential challenge. ⬇️

medium.com/wagovernor/ins… 1⃣ I am supporting legislation to make Juneteenth a legal holiday.

Clearly we have not done enough to recognize the history of slavery and acknowledge the institutional racism that has impacted people of color for generations.

This is one small but important step to fix that.

The first COVID-19 vaccine has been given initial authorization by the FDA and CDC.

Today, I’m happy to announce it’s been authorized by our own Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup.

That means vaccination can begin in Washington. The Western States Workgroup gave their unanimous recommendation to the vaccine last night and encourages immediate use.

This is welcome news – with nearing 200,000 total COVID cases and close to 3,000 deaths from COVID-19.

We are seeing some signs the current restrictions are working. But our hospitals are still on the brink. Therefore, I am extending existing restrictions for three weeks – ending January 4th.

It is a dangerous time in Washington. We need to buckle down through the holidays. This is an incredibly hard decision to make. We know some of our businesses are hanging by a thread.

In light of that, we’re making an additional $50 million in business grants available for businesses impacted by these decisions.

Today is the most dangerous public health day in the last 100 years of our state’s history. A pandemic is raging in Washington.

Today, we are taking action to stop it.

medium.com/wagovernor/ins… We are facing a third wave that is more dangerous than any we’ve seen before.

We cannot and will not lose control of this virus.

We are in as dangerous a position today as we were in March. In just the last two weeks our case numbers have doubled.

Simply put, it’s just too dangerous to gather with anyone outside our household right now.
seattletimes.com/nation-world/a… Like so many of you, our family cherishes our Thanksgiving traditions. But this year, our family will celebrate the holidays virtually.

The good news is we only have to do this once. But it is just too dangerous to gather right now.

Washington passed 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 today.

Every choice you make right now matters. As we transition into fall, cases are again on the rise in Washington.

Spending time indoors with people outside your household is just too risky right now. We all need to commit to having fewer, shorter, safer interactions – especially as the weather keeps us inside more often.

It is our duty as governors to protect the people of our states.
@OregonGovBrown
@CAgovernor
@GovMurphy
@GovWhitmer
@GovEvers
@GovTimWalz
@GovernorVA
@JohnCarneyDE
@GovSisolak
@GovMLG and I affirm -

all votes cast will be counted and democracy will be delivered this election. Efforts to throw out ballots or refuse a peaceful transfer of power are nothing less than an assault on American democracy.

There is no excuse for promoting the intimidation or harassment of voters. These are blatant attempts to deny American's their right to be heard.

If the Wall Street Journal report is accurate, Boeing would be turning its back on the best workers and the best place in the world to build airplanes. 1/6

wsj.com/articles/boein… The state has supported Boeing with a well-trained workforce, a robust supply line, world class research institutions and the best business climate in America.

This move would force a review of that partnership, including a hard look at Boeing’s favorable tax treatment. 2/6

We have lost one of the greatest American patriots to ever serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg leaves an enormous legacy behind of upholding women’s access to health care, voting rights and equality under the law for the LGBTQ community. Our heartbreak at the loss of Justice Ginsburg will become a tragedy for the ages if the U.S. Senate confirms a new justice before we know who our next president is.

It would be the height of hypocrisy for Mitch McConnell to allow it.

It’s OK to not feel OK during a pandemic.

This is tough.

People have lost loved ones. People are fighting for their lives, their livelihoods and their homes. It can be a lot to take in, and it feels like it just keeps coming. Changes in our feelings, thoughts and behaviors are normal, not a result of weakness or a sign we’re doing anything wrong.

If you’re experiencing stress because of COVID-19, you can call Washington Listens at 833-681-0211 for support services.

.@RealDonaldTrump – I hope you had an enlightening trip to the West Coast, where your refusal to address climate change — and your active steps to allow even more carbon pollution — will accelerate devastating wildfires like you are seeing today. We agree – forest management is important. That’s why WA has spent $130 million on forest health and fire preparedness since 2009.

But there is no fire suppression plan on this planet that does anyone any good if it doesn’t acknowledge, and combat, the role of climate change.