In the wake of a multi-school, multi-county outbreak of COVID-19 including confirmed omicron cases, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has updated requirements for all indoor, high-contact sports and activities including basketball, wrestling, water polo, and competitive cheer.

The following health and safety measures go into effect immediately:

• • Required testing of all athletes, coaches, trainers, and support personnel, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Increased testing frequency to three times per week with at least one test conducted within 24 hours of competition, ideally the day of the competition whenever possible.

In addition, DOH wants to remind people of existing requirements for all K-12 sporting events that help keep athletes, staff, and families safer when attending these events:

• • All indoor event spectators must wear masks and should distance from other families or households to the degree possible.
  • Mask wearing is required among all athletes except when actively competing.
  • Coaches, trainers, and support personnel must wear face coverings at all times in indoor public spaces.
  • Referees must wear masks except when actively officiating.

Don’t hesitate to get your booster! Vaccines and boosters increase protection against infection and severe disease caused by COVID-19, including new variants.

Read the full press release from DOH and review the K-12 COVID-19 Requirements for the 2021-2022 School Year for more details about these changes.

We are keeping track of news about the new variant as it develops. Here’s what to know as we head into the winter break:

Here’s what to know:

• • Studies suggest that omicron is more transmissible than previous variants due to a high level of unique mutations.
  • Although high transmissibility is likely, early reports indicate that omicron may cause less severe disease as compared with previous variants such as delta.
  • Vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death caused by omicron, but breakthrough infections are likely to occur.
  • Boosters increase protection against infection, including from new variants.
  • Delta is still the predominant variant in the United States and is driving COVID-19 related hospitalizations and deaths.
  • Most hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 are among unvaccinated people.
  • As of Tuesday, December 14th, 9 omicron cases have been confirmed in Washington state.
  • Vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission, and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging.
  • Evidence shows that wearing a mask reduces an infected person’s chance of spreading the infection to others.

The bottom line as we approach the holidays: Get vaccinated. Get boosted.

Learn more about the pediatric vaccine authorized for children ages 5 to 11 on our Vaccine FAQs page.

Use the Washington State Department of Health vaccine locator to schedule your vaccines and boosters.