King County will end COVID vaccine requirements at restaurants, bars State employees and workers in private health care and long-term care settings will have until October 18 to be fully vaccinated. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination record card or photo of card. Everyone should continue to take steps to reduce COVID-19 risk, including getting vaccinated and boosted when eligible, using high quality, well-fitting face masks, improving indoor air quality through ventilation and filtration, and limiting time in crowded and poorly ventilated indoor spaces. King County businesses and community members have been instrumental in encouraging nation-leading vaccination verification rates, and Im grateful for the extra effort to keep our community safe over these last several months. Starting October 25, Washington state's King County will be requiring proof of vaccination for people to enter restaurants, bars, gyms, and non essential businesses. King County will stop requiring restaurants and bars to verify customers' vaccination statuses for indoor dining starting March 1, officials announced Wednesday, as case counts and. WA's COVID state of emergency will lift on Oct. 31, Inslee says I am not covering everything about this mandate, but it is easy to look up if you have questions. RELATED: State workers seek exemptions to Washington COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Employees who refuse to get vaccinated would face losing their jobs, Gov. King County's Vaccine Verification Rules Start Monday COVID-19 vaccine is free and no insurance required. The changes come as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations fueled by omicron are declining. King County health officer Dr. Jeff . To enter a restaurant you must now show proof of vaccination. Some local businesses throughout Seattle have been requiring proof of vaccination from customers for weeks. Only children under 12 are exempted from the mandate. Almost a year after lifting its indoor mask mandate, Washington state will drop mask mandates in health care, long-term care and correctional facilities on April 3, state health officials announced Friday, March 3. . Businesses should continue to support employees in getting vaccinated and staying home when sick., We are thrilled to hear that recent public health data has encouraged King County leaders to move our community and our businesses into the next phase of the pandemic and prepare for the sunset of vaccine verification, said Rachel Smith, president and CEO of the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce. Press inquiries | 360.902.4136, Vaccine Mandate Frequently Asked Questions, Governor's Distinguished Managers Association, Governors Task Force on Independent Investigations of Police Use of Force, Request a Ceremonial Proclamation, Greeting or Letter. Jay Inslee in response to the state's vaccine mandate. Seattle Times staff reporters Elise Takahama and Joseph OSullivan contributed to this report. To learn more about this policy change, read our blog post. Today our experts advise that immunity has reached a level that allows these requirements to be relaxed. King Countys local indoor mask order ended concurrently with the states, Public Health Seattle & King County announced last month. Children . With new COVID-19 cases and hospitalization decreasing, and over 87% of King County residents over age 12 fully vaccinated, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced Public Health Seattle & King County is lifting the local health order requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for entry into indoor recreational settings, or outdoor events. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is approved for anyone 6 months and older. King County 's vaccine requirement has been in effect since October 2021. Businesses and organizations may continue to implement their own vaccination verification rules for their establishments. Dismissed for vaccine refusal? The state legislature offers help But local leaders announced Wednesday that those verification. Washington State Enacts Strictest Vaccine Mandate Yet For Educators In addition to the employee vaccine mandate, Executive Constantine also rescinded the countys COVID emergency proclamation today. King County officials made the announcement Wednesday. Because we dont know yet how long this immunity lasts or have a way to test for it in individuals, vaccination is recommended for everyone even those who have been previously infected. Employers must verify the vaccination status of employees, regardless of work setting. 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We are now in a different phase of the pandemic compared to where we were in 2021 and 2022 and it makes sense to remove any requirements for vaccination, said Dr. Faisal Khan, Director of Public Health Seattle & King County. COVID-19 information Therefore, it makes sense that vaccination is highly recommended but no longer required for King County and Seattle staff and contractors outside of health care settings. Seattle, King County announce indoor vaccine requirement to fight COVID I thought it was easier. Here's the latest mask and COVID vaccine requirements in WA and King County Vaccine verification was a win-win: our businesses got to keep their staff on payroll and keep their doors open, while prioritizing safety. Thanks to a tight-knit partnership with King County, we are getting information and tools ready to make compliance simple, and we have built a support network of experts to help businesses of all sizes throughout our region. It's the right thing to do for our workers, our customers, our economy, and the health and vitality of our city. Jay Inslee announced a face mask mandate across the state. Our aim in King County is to efficiently and equitably vaccinate as many eligible King County residents as possible in order to suppress the spread of COVID-19 and minimize the impact of the pandemic on our community. Local restaurants struggle with loss of business due to King Co vaccine With high vaccination rates and effective, updated boosters available, we are in a different place in the pandemic, and our policies and regulations will change to reflect the best information we have available today, as they have throughout the last three years. He was recently promoted from To keep employees and the community safe and healthy, in mid-2021 that included requiring all county and city employees, contractors, and volunteers to show proof they had received the initial COVID-19 vaccination series. For people who are unvaccinated or cannot prove vaccine status, they will be required to show proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test in the last 72 hours, or a negative rapid test result from a testing provider conducted on site at an event or establishment just prior to entry. King County customers of restaurants, theaters, gyms must show proof of Individuals under 12 years of age, who are not eligible to be vaccinated, are not required to be tested for entry. Jay Inslee made the announcement on Feb. 28. CDC recommends one updated (bivalent) booster dose: There is no booster recommendation for children aged 6 months to 4 years who got the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine primary series. How can I get the COVID-19 vaccine in King County? There is no longer a statewide mask mandate for most indoor spaces, which include schools, child care facilities, libraries, restaurants and bars, places of worship, gyms, recreation centers, indoor athletic facilities, or retail establishments like grocery stores. The requirement applies to state workers, regardless of teleworking status. Public Health continues to encourage everyone to be fully vaccinated and to be prudent about the use of masks in indoor settings.. Learn more about eligibility and getting vaccinated in King County. There's just no way around it. Our public health experts believe that now is the appropriate time to lift vaccine verification, based on high rates of vaccine coverage and the decrease in new cases and hospitalizations across the county. For King County employees, this means a gradual transition of the nearly 5,000 employees who have been mostly working remotely over the last two years, not a sudden end to telecommuting. Washington to lift mask mandate in health care facilities KING COUNTY, Wash. After nearly two years, King County and the City of Seattle will no longer require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Following updated public health guidelines, King County and the City of Seattle will no longer require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. We should be doing all we can to ensure the health care system is there to serve our residents. The performing arts industry has been devastated by this pandemic. Only children under 12 are exempted from the mandate. A city official said lifting the mandate is expected to have. To enter a restaurant you must now show proof of vaccination. Our top priority has been to support the King County business community as it navigated changes in regulations, and it can expect that same high level of support and resources from the Chamber to help ensure safety for our community moving forward. The Delta virus is much more contagious, airborne, causes severe illness, and is seriously stressing our hospitals and healthcare providers," said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health Seattle & King County. This applies to executive cabinet agencies, but the governor encouraged all others such as higher education, local governments, the legislative branch, other statewide elected officials and organizations in the private sector to do the same. This is our moment to celebrate the tremendous work the county, businesses, and customers did to make public health a priority saving lives and keeping our economy moving. The number of new cases of COVID are leading to far too much suffering. Together, we can help put an end to this pandemic and regain freedom from COVID-19. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Members will have a partner in this every step of the way. For isolation and quarantine requests contact the King County COVID-19 Mobile Isolation and Quarantine Program at 206-848-0710. In addition, since this policy was adopted, over one-quarter of a million King County residents have gotten vaccinated, meaning nearly 80% of King County residents are now fully vaccinated and 92% of those eligible have started the vaccination series. other official immunization record from within or outside the United States, including from your health care provider. ", "Seattle was the first region in the country to feel the devastating effects of the COVID-19 virus, and we innovated and brought nation-leading testing and vaccination sites to our residents. We announced the vaccination verification policy in anticipation of a fall and winter surge in cases. We're a very small establishment, old, old building, not crazy ventilation. The policy required either verification of full vaccination or a recent negative test to enter indoor entertainment and recreational events or establishments, indoor restaurants and bars, and outdoor events with 500 people or more. After more than twenty months, I desperately want to get back to as close to normal as possible, but we can't get there without reducing the risk for all through vaccination, masking, testing, physical distancing, and ventilation. In accordance with Federal civil rights law, Public Health Seattle & King County does not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of an individuals protected class, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, religion, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, and marital status. Currently, 68% of the total King County population and 79% of eligible King County residents (those 12 years of age and up) have completed their vaccination series against COVID-19, including more than 70% of every eligible age group and all racial groups tracked by Public Health. Unvaccinated officers apply for jobs at Brier Police Department - KING-TV Starting October 25, patrons 12-years-old and up must show proof that they are fully vaccinated or provide a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of entry. Businesses and workplaces have an important role to play in helping slow the of COVID-19. The mask order is the latest in relaxing COVID-19 restrictions in Washington state. Our COVID-19 response must continue to adapt to the difficult, changing reality of this pandemic. Jay Inslee's COVID-19 vaccine mandate went into effect Monday. King County worked with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to gather business feedback to inform the policy and conduct outreach and technical assistance once the policy was in place. Vaccination verification is just one part of a multi-faceted COVID-19 prevention strategy. King County also dropped its vaccine-verification requirement for large outdoor events, like concerts and sporting events, as well as restaurants, bars, theaters and gyms on March 1.. Everyone age 6 months and older is currently eligible for COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots. Please note that while many industry sectors such as restaurants, bars, gyms, retails stores and other businesses have returned to normal capacity and operations, individual businesses may choose to maintain restrictions as they deem appropriate for the health and safety of their workers and customers. The Delta variant is more than twice as contagious as the original COVID-19, which makes increasing vaccination rates even more important to slowing disease spread and protecting people from hospitalization and death. Dow Constantine. We support the engagement of the public and private sector to play more of a role in helping close the vaccination gap in our communities. "Anything less than that amounts to using our industry which has been the hardest hit by far as a carrot-and-stick for the small percentage of people in King County who have been unwilling to be vaccinated.". With restrictions about COVID-19 rapidly changing, please check with individual departments to be sure a building is open before you seek in-person service. The new vaccine mandate went into effect yesterday, October 25. The vaccination verification policy will no longer be in effect as of March 1. All Rights Reserved. Too many people, adults and children, are ending up in hospitals across the state and here in our county, threatening to overwhelm the system. We are moving in the right direction, and can continue taking additional steps toward recovery. Enter your zip code in Washington's Vaccine Locator tool or check our Getting Vaccinated page to find a vaccination site near you. We have the tools to slow this down and to prevent not only needless suffering but also the ongoing disruption of our lives. For COVID-19 information and resources visit kingcounty.gov/covid. The updated booster shots will target Omicron variants that are spreading and also the original strain of the COVID virus. It will apply to: The order gives the option for a longer preparation period for smaller restaurants and bars with a seating capacity of 12 or less, with an implementation date of December 6. For general questions about COVID-19 in Washington State call the Washington State COVID-19 Information Hotline at 1-800-525-0127. Throughout the pandemic, King County and the City of Seattle have used the most up-to-date recommendations and expertise from Public Health officials to inform policy decisions to adapt to the conditions and threats from the virus. Request an accommodation We also know the COVID-19 vaccines remain one of the safest and most effective tools for preventing severe illness and hospitalizations, so we support the announcement today that we believe will help encourage everyone who can get vaccinated to get vaccinated. Several jurisdictions have already adopted some form of vaccine verification policy, including New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles County, the State of California, British Columbia in Canada, and Clallam and Jefferson counties in Washington state. COVID-19 vaccine verification requirements for most businesses in King County have been in effect since October of 2021. Vaccine mandate for King County - Washington Message Board - Tripadvisor KUOW - Final statewide masking mandate to end in WA Additionally, King County and the City of Seattle announced their remote employees would begin returning to offices in March. Rachel Smith, president and CEO of the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers, use high quality, well-fitting face masks, improve indoor air quality through ventilation and/or use of HEPA filtration, avoid crowded and poorly ventilated indoor spaces. The mandate will also apply to outdoor events with more than 500 people in attendance. King County and City of Seattle announce update to employee vaccine mandate The vaccine will be covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance, and the cost of the vaccine will be covered for people who are uninsured. Require additional services in order for a person to receive a COVID-19 vaccine; however, additional healthcare services can be provided at the same time and billed as appropriate. As a member of the Seattle & King County community, as a parent of two children in local schools, and as an infectious diseases physician who has worked on fighting the pandemic since January of 2020, I am in very strong support of the actions being taken by Public Health Seattle & King County. Immunization program - King County - King County, Washington "Vaccination is our best shield against this deadly virus. The intent was to reduce COVID-19 transmission in high-risk indoor settings and thereby reduce the burden on our hospitals, while providing time for more people to get fully vaccinated, said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer, Public Health Seattle & King County. King County and City of Seattle announce updates to employee vaccine There are nearly 300,000 King County residents who are eligible but have not yet started their vaccination series. Today, nearly 80% of all King County residents are now fully vaccinated and among those who are eligible to get vaccinated, which are people ages 5 and older, 92% have started the vaccination series. Small restaurants, defined as those with seating capacity for fewer than 12 people, will phase into the mandate on December 6. Vaccinations are free and health insurance is not required. Charge you directly for any administration fees, copays, or coinsurance. For Chris Lacayan, another Filipino business owner, he thinks the mandate is too much. The entire order is not expected to be permanent. 150 businesses in King County receive complaints over not complying Seattle, WA 98104 At a news . Indoor entertainment and recreational events or establishments such as professional and collegiate sports, entertainment, performing arts, museums, theatre, live music, gyms, and conferences/conventions. Executive Constantine reissued the order pertaining to Metro service reductions which will remain in effect. Washington's mask order in healthcare facilities ends April 3 | king5.com The requirements are similar to those recently enacted in New York, San Francisco and New Orleans, as well as in Washington states Clallam and Jefferson counties. Vaccine verification requirements loosened statewide and in King County on March 1. If you have a complaint and wish to file a grievance, or have a question about possible discrimination, please contact the King County Civil Rights Program at civil-rights.OCR@kingcounty.gov; 206-263-2446; TTY Relay 7-1-1; or 401 5th Ave, Suite 800, Seattle, WA 98104. It doesnt affect outdoor dining, take-out orders and shopping in places including grocery stores. If businesses, schools, and government come together, we can help protect our community and help stop this pandemic sooner rather than later.". By June 2020, Gov. Isolation and quarantine requests "For the people who say I just dont want it well then youre making a choice. RELATED: The Divide Podcast: Seattle's mayor defends indoor vaccine requirement. A lot of people just want to go out, go on with their lives. The lifting of the vaccination mandate for contractors is part of the Executive's action to rescind the county's COVID-19 Proclamation of Emergency that was issued on March 1, 2020 . Since this policy was adopted, over one-quarter of a million King County residents have gotten vaccinated. With King Countys high level of vaccination booster uptake and lower levels of community spread, hospitalizations due to COVID infection remained at a safe level, making the overall risk forecast low enough to lift the mandate for employees, volunteers, and contractors. "Our data has shown vaccines, masking, and social distancing can reduce the risk of infection and prevent the spread of COVID-19 cases. Hospital intensive care units are filled with unvaccinated patients who are extremely sick with COVID-19, causing significant strain on health care workers trying to provide the best possible care to all of our patients. People 12 years old and up must show proof that they are fully vaccinated or provide a negative COVID test taken. King County will begin requiring customers of restaurants, bars, gyms and other indoor entertainment spaces to show proof of vaccination from COVID-19, or a negative test taken within 72 hours. For the latest information on masking requirements in the Seattle area, Washington state and U.S., clickhere. View this document in other languages: Current guidance on who can get a booster dose, when to get it, and which type to get: CDC recommends that anyone ages 5 and older who have moderately or severely weakened immune systems (immunocompromised) get a third dose of vaccine. Starting this Monday October 25, people ages 12+ will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result to enter many establishments and events within King County . King County Executive That work is why we have one of the highest vaccination rates and the lowest cases, hospitalizations, and deaths of any major American city. SEATTLE - Seattle and King County Thursday announced an indoor vaccine requirement for restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters, and other entertainment venues. That work is why we have one of the highest vaccination rates and the lowest cases, hospitalizations, and deaths of any major American city," said Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan. King County to end indoor vaccination verification March 1 at bars COVID-19 in Washington Q13 FOX Seattle, King County announce indoor vaccine requirement to fight COVID-19 spread Seattle and King County Thursday announced an indoor vaccine requirement. Public Health Seattle & King County COVID-19 resources Current guidance Vaccination verification Vaccination verification Beginning March 1, 2022, the vaccine verification requirement will no longer be in effect in King County. Deny vaccination to anyone who does not have health insurance coverage, is underinsured, or is out of network. Masks are also still required on school buses a federal requirement, according to Inslees office. For Pamela Carpio, the owner of Knee High Stocking and Jeepney, she thinks that it is the right thing to do. CDC recommends the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines over J&J for both initial and booster vaccinations. The case was filed . It comes as the state and the nation pass another major pandemic milestone. We are moving in the right direction, and can continue taking additional steps toward recovery, said King County Executive Dow Constantine. He said the association would continue working to be part of a solution based on science and urged people to be kind to hospitality workers as they work to stop the spread of the coronavirus. He was joined by Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Kaiser Permanente Washington President Susan Mullaney, Washington State Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah, and Seattle-King County Public Health Officer Dr. Jeffrey Duchin.