Submitted by the Washington State Department of Health.

The Yakima Health Department reported recently that 95% of people in Yakima are wearing a face-covering in public. And you know what? Yakima County is the only place in the state right now where each person who gets COVID-19 on average spreads it to less than one other person.

Everywhere else in the state is on the path to runaway transmission rates of COVID-19, according to the most recent statewide situation report.

Here’s the bad news:

The number of people getting COVID-19 every day in Washington is higher now than it has ever been.

Hospitalization rates are rising throughout the state.

The increase in the number of young adults getting COVID-19 is leading to an increase in the number of children and teens who are getting COVID-19 and threatening to spread broadly into younger and older age groups, as we have seen happen in Florida.

And the good news:

Changing our behavior makes a difference. The report describes the hopeful story of Yakima County, which has seen a sharp turnaround in the number of people getting COVID-19 each day now that nearly everyone in Yakima County is wearing cloth face coverings and practicing physical distancing.

You know what to do. Each of us needs to make a conscious shift in the way we live our lives so that we can send our kids back to school in the fall and continue to reopen our businesses.

Stay home as much as possible.

Mostly visit virtually. See only a few people in person.

Stay six feet away from other people.

Wear a cloth face-covering in public.

Practice compassion.

Do your part to make sure we can send our kids back to school and avoid the need for more restrictions.