Businesses and organizations may continue to implement their own vaccination verification rules for their establishments. 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 . Public and constituent inquiries | 360.902.4111 While the significant benefits of vaccination have not changed, the acute threat to our community and healthcare system has decreased. Contact King County COVID-19 Business and Community Information by submitting a written inquiry or report online. Establishments will be responsible for checking vaccination proof or negative test status. The performing arts industry has been devastated by this pandemic. the Washington State Nurses Association, and . Inslee pushed up the timeline for lifting Washingtons COVID-19 mask requirements for schools and businesses to March 12 after federal officials loosened public health guidelines on face coverings.
It will be reviewed no later than six months after the October 25th implementation date to assess its continued need based on future outbreak conditions. Anyone needing COVID-19 vaccine can visit KingCounty.gov/vaccine to find a vaccine in their neighborhood. Individuals under 12 years of age, who are not eligible to be vaccinated, are not required to be tested for entry. Updated (bivalent) booster vaccines are now available. Rooted in our shared values of safety and health equity, we will continue to follow this approach as we respond to next steps in the pandemic and continue to advance efforts to ensure a thriving and equitable recovery for all Seattle residents and neighbors.. Since the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, King Countys policy has been to follow the science, listen to the experts, and protect life and health. For general questions about COVID-19 in Washington State call the Washington State COVID-19 Information Hotline at 1-800-525-0127. Jay Inslee's COVID-19 vaccine mandate went into effect Monday. The vaccine mandate for Washington, King County and Seattle city employees would go into effect in October. This mandate comes as Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to rise in King's County. It comes as the state and the nation pass another major pandemic milestone. Charge an office visit or other fee to the recipient if the only service provided is a COVID-19 vaccination. In alignment with updated Public Health Seattle and King County guidance, Executive Dow Constantine and Mayor Bruce Harrell announced today that King County and the City of Seattle will no longer require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment effective today. Say your preferred language when connected. For more business resources about this policy change, please visit the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce's website: kcvaxverified.com, Infographic about why the vaccine verification policy is lifting on March 1, 2022, Link/share our site at kingcounty.gov/verify, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers, To learn more about this policy change, read our blog post, Encourage employees to stay home when sick. After extensive engagement with community partners, small businesses, venues, and hospitals, Seattle is proud to implement a vaccination verification policy. With City employees who had previously been working from home beginning to return to office in mid-March, I look forward to keeping up this collaborative spirit as we drive forward an equitable, community-focused recovery. COVID-19 information To date, more than three million vaccine doses have been administered in King County. Washingtons statewide mandate for schools and businesses lifted March 12; Gov. Employees who refuse to get vaccinated would face losing their jobs, Gov. ", "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. Dow Constantine. Updated: 10:20 PM PDT September 13, 2021. With City employees who had previously been working from home beginning to return to office in mid-March, I look forward to keeping up this collaborative spirit as we drive forward an equitable, community-focused recovery. Editors note: This post is no longer being updated. King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and others in the community support the order, according to the news release. The Fil-Am-owned Knee High Stocking and Jeepney, has already implemented its own vaccine mandate since August. In addition: Individuals who are immunocompromised may want to take extra precautions. COVID-19 vaccine verification requirements for most businesses in King County have been in effect since October of 2021. Vaccination verification is just one part of a multi-faceted COVID-19 prevention strategy. Businesses should continue to support employees in getting vaccinated and staying home when sick. Dow Constantine. A negative Covid test from within 72 hours will also be acceptable. Public Health Seattle & King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin said the move will protect customers and workers through providing safer spaces, protecting the health care system, and helping prevent business closures. This order keeps the arts on the path to recovery, while mitigating the most serious health and safety risks for our patrons and their families, Public Health Media Team, PHPIO@kingcounty.gov, Kristin Elia, Executive Office, 206-477-8209, Main phone: 206-263-9600 The order is. Before supporting a recommendation to lift the employee vaccine mandate, Public Health officials wanted to understand the impacts of a potential winter surge in 2022 2023. FAX: 206-296-0194. For everyone aged 5 years and older if it has been at least 2 months since your last dose. That means face masks are coming off for all who want to do so in most places starting June 29. With continued high levels of preventable COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and increased deaths driven by the Delta variant, serious stress on our regional healthcare system, and concern for a significant outbreak resurgence this fall and winter, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan and community, health care, small business, and arts and culture partners joined in support of requiring verification of full vaccination or a negative test to enter certain indoor and outdoor activities and establishments. The changes come as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations fueled by omicron are declining. 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. State employees and workers in private health care and long-term care settings will have until October 18 to be fully vaccinated. An analysis by the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) conducted for King County found that the vaccine verification policy at restaurants, bars, and gyms/fitness centers alone could have a significant positive impact, preventing between 17,900 and 75,900 infections, 421 and 1,760 hospitalizations, and 63 and 257 deaths locally over six months with the order in place. ", "Our COVID-19 response must continue to adapt to the difficult, changing reality of this pandemic. The countys order includes exceptions for take-out orders, outdoor dining, and grocery stores. 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. 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. Smaller restaurants and bars with a seating capacity of 12 or fewer do not need to implement the new order until December 6 of this year. There is no cost to you for the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of immigration or health insurance status. 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. People 12 years old and up must show proof that they are fully vaccinated or provide a negative COVID test taken. There will be no personal exemptions, but employees can apply for religious exemption. We have a duty to protect them from the virus, they have the right to be protected, and the communities they serve and live in deserve protection as well.. More than 150 restaurants and bars in King County have already implemented some form of vaccine requirement to enter, The Seattle Times reported. But not everyone is for the new mandate. A photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable. 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. March 1, 2020. CDC recommends the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines over J&J for both initial and booster vaccinations. Almost 90% of King County residents between 18 and 64 years of age have completed the primary vaccination series, although most have not yet received an updated bivalent booster and therefore are at increased risk for preventable serious infections compared to those who have received it. But the overall mandate is temporary and will be re-evaluated for a possible extension in April 2022. 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. 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. The latest setting on King County's dial is a vaccine mandate to enter restaurants, bars, and non-essential businesses. 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. He was recently promoted from The governor made the announcement at a press conference on Monday at Kaiser Permanente in Seattle. The policy was announced in September 2021 as a temporary measure during the Delta variant surge and to prepare for a potential fall and winter surge. Seattle will continue to follow public health guidance and adopt strategies that best keep our communities safe," said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. Several forms of vaccination proof will be permitted under the order, including: The order defines full vaccination as two weeks after the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two weeks after one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or two weeks after completing another approved vaccine. Starting February 6, the King County Executive terminated Executive Order ACO-8-28-EO pertaining to the vaccination mandate for contractors. We are moving in the right direction, and can continue taking additional steps toward recovery. This button displays the currently selected search type. 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. Employers must verify the vaccination status of employees, regardless of work setting. 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., Although our mandatory vaccine verification requirement is ending, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations remain elevated and layered COVID-19 prevention remains important. The new vaccine mandate went into effect yesterday, October 25. We also have tools to further reduce the spread of illness through improving indoor air quality (e.g., through ventilation and filtration) and, in some settings, with the use of high-quality, well-fitting masks.