OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday that he’ll drop the statewide coronavirus-mask mandate March 21.

Inslee said that’s the day when he believes it’ll be safe to remove mask mandates and not overwhelm hospitals.

“It would not be safe to do this today,” he said. “We will be removing the mask mandate in our schools and public indoor spaces as of Monday, March 21.”

Students may still be required to wear masks on buses.

The governor added that he will not end his emergency proclamation at that time, declining to offer a date to end his declared emergency.

“The emergency or...