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. WA to end masking requirement in health care, correctional facilities, Fire on Lake City Way in Seattle raises smoke, flooding concerns, One Seattle business is taking a stand against tipping mania, Tacoma woman refusing tuberculosis treatment continues to face arrest, Be bolder to get light rail done, expert panel tells Sound Transit. Starting February 6, the King County Executive terminated Executive Order ACO-8-28-EO pertaining to the vaccination mandate for contractors. 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. From the beginning of this pandemic, our aim has been to protect the health of our community and save lives. 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. Asked whether the mandate would isolate those who are unvaccinated, Durkan said that would be their choice. People ages 12 and older will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative . According to the media release, more than 98% of King County's nearly 15,000 employees provided proof of vaccination and nearly 4,000 employees were hired since. 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. The vaccination verification policy will no longer be in effect as of March 1. This is the first coronavirus death reported in the U.S. Executive Constantine and Mayor Harrell also announced that restrictions on in-office work will be lifted, and remote employees will begin returning to the office in March. Masks are now credited, by public health officials, with limiting the spread of Covid-19. Vaccine verification requirements loosened statewide and in King County on March 1. King County's decision to verify vaccination for entry in outdoor events, recreational events or establishments and restaurants, is an important and needed step in the current fight against the pandemic. Public and constituent inquiries | 360.902.4111 To date, more than three million vaccine doses have been administered in King County. "After extensive engagement with community partners, small businesses, venues, and hospitals, Seattle is proud to implement a vaccination verification policy.". Anyone needing COVID-19 vaccine can visit KingCounty.gov/vaccine to find a vaccine in their neighborhood. Establishing a vaccine mandate for employees and contractors was critical to keeping employees and the public safe, and keeping services flowing. Only children under 12 are exempted from the mandate. The Moderna vaccine is approved for anyone age 6 months to 5 years or age 18 and over. The governor made the announcement at a press conference on Monday at Kaiser Permanente in Seattle. 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. 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. 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. After extensive engagement with community partners, small businesses, venues, and hospitals, Seattle is proud to implement a vaccination verification policy. 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. 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. There will be no personal exemptions, but employees can apply for religious exemption. Mayor Bruce. King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and others in the community support the order, according to the news release. craigslist florida miami; raw video download for editing A federal appeals court upholds Biden's vaccine mandate for federal workers. For the latest business and worker guidance related to reopening, visit the Washington Ready page or the governor's website. 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. 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. 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. Public Health, King County, and City of Seattle will be working with partners to provide technical support and educational materials to businesses and organizations implementing the order. King County Executive 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. 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. Isolation and quarantine requests Contact King County COVID-19 Business and Community Information by submitting a written inquiry or report online. Indoor entertainment and recreational events or establishments such as professional and collegiate sports, entertainment, performing arts, museums, theatre, live music, gyms, and conferences/conventions. Isolation and quarantine requests Vaccine verification is one more tool to help keep our community safe, slow the spread of the coronavirus and ensure that our nurses and health care workers can be there for you when you need us. From the beginning of this pandemic, our aim has been to protect the health of our community and save lives. But not everyone is for the new mandate. In addition to the employee vaccine mandate, Executive Constantine also rescinded the countys COVID emergency proclamation today. Charge you directly for any administration fees, copays, or coinsurance. The mandate will also apply to outdoor events with more than 500 people in attendance. A photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable. Washington State sets vaccine mandate for government and health care workers. Employees also must allow workers to continue wearing masks if they choose and cannot take adverse action against a worker who wears a mask or takes time off to get vaccinated or seek coronavirus-related treatment. Guy Hudson, Chief Executive Officer, Swedish Health Services, Rachel Smith, President and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Nate Dwyer, Chief Operating Officer, Seattle Theatre Group, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers, vaccine verification policy at restaurants, bars, and gyms/fitness centers alone could have a significant positive impact, Local Health Officer Order Vaccine Verification (September 16, 2021), Health Order webpage, including Frequently Asked Questions, Public Health Insider Blog on Health Order, King County COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard, Outdoor events with 500 people or more such as professional and collegiate sports and entertainment events. COVID-19 vaccine is free and no insurance required. 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. King Countys masking requirement for large outdoor events ended Feb. 18. If businesses, schools, and government come together, we can help protect our community and help stop this pandemic sooner rather than later.". 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. TTY: Relay: 711 The new vaccine mandate went into effect yesterday, October 25. 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. To date, more than three million vaccine doses have been administered in King County. 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. It's the right thing to do for our workers, our customers, our economy, and the health and vitality of our city. This button displays the currently selected search type. More people are now vaccinated and protected against severe COVID-19. Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine is approved for anyone age 18 and over, however in most instances the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines are preferred. Businesses are free to impose their own vaccine requirements, but there is no countywide requirement. Vaccination verification is just one part of a multi-faceted COVID-19 prevention strategy. Hospitals are really stretched right now across Washington State. Enter your zip code in Washington's Vaccine Locator tool or check our Getting Vaccinated page to find a vaccination site near you. 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. The requirement applies to state workers, regardless of teleworking status. BRIER, Wash. The City of Brier is seeing more people apply for it's police department because it doesn't have a vaccine mandate. Vaccination is our best shield against this deadly virus. But local leaders announced Wednesday that those verification. 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. . 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. Establishments will be responsible for checking vaccination proof or negative test status. We need help from the community, and we need more people to get vaccinated. UW's IHME projects our outbreak to worsen in the next six months with hundreds of thousands of additional cases, thousands of additional hospitalizations, and approximately a thousand additional deaths, with the majority among unvaccinated people. 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. These steps forward show we are moving in the right direction and reflect that our region's strong COVID response is the result of a united team effort. Duchins order is not meant to be permanent and will be reviewed within six months after the implementation date, officials said. King County, the City of Seattle, and Public Health developed the vaccine verification policy in consultation with Public Health's Pandemic and Racism Community Advisory Group, cities, small businesses, chambers of commerce, labor unions, trade associations, sports teams, entertainment venues, community groups, and faith-based leaders throughout the county to create a policy that aims to be workable, fair, and equitable for businesses and residents. The countys order includes exceptions for take-out orders, outdoor dining, and grocery stores. We are moving in the right direction, and can continue taking additional steps toward recovery. Todays orders will not impact booking restrictions at King County correctional facilities originally adopted at the beginning of the pandemic, and that remain in effect due to staffing shortages at the correctional facilities. King County reports losing about 2% of its workforce and the city of Seattle lost about 1% of workers who refused the vaccine. To date, more than three million vaccine doses have been administered in King County. Amanda Zhou covers afternoon breaking news and enterprise for The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times reports from March 1, businesses will be free to impose their own vaccination requirements if they choose, but there. There are nearly 300,000 King County residents who are eligible but have not yet started their vaccination series. It doesnt affect outdoor dining, take-out orders and shopping in places including grocery stores. ", We announced the vaccination verification policy in anticipation of a fall and winter surge in cases. 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. Filipino-American business owners in the county expressed mixed reactions to the said directive. Jay Inslee's COVID-19 vaccine mandate went into effect Monday. FAX: 206-296-0194, Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer, Public Health Seattle & King County, Heather Likins, a registered nurse and member of the Washington State Nurses Association, Cassie Sauer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Washington State Hospital Association, Dr. Christopher Murray, Director, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Dr. John Lynch, Medical Director, Harborview Medical Center Infection Prevention and Control; Last week, several local sports teams and venues, including the Seattle Kraken, Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Storm, Seattle Thunderbirds, University of Washington Huskies, and all events at Climate Pledge Arena adopted vaccination verification policies. Chan's Place in Woodinville. Preventing further COVID infections is a powerful way to protect the health care system. says. 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. The mandate required customers and visitors to provide proof they were fully vaccinated or recently tested negative for COVID-19 before they could participate in a broad array of indoor. Dow Constantine. "But Seattle is not immune to the surge in cases and hospitalizations caused by the Delta variant. For businesses, it is important to: People 12 years old and up must show proof that they are fully vaccinated or provide a negative COVID test taken. The mandate requires most state employees, health care workers and school employees to get. In alignment with CDC, the Washington Department of Health recommends workers and passengers two years of age or older wear masks in all indoor public transportation settings, including both conveyances and transportation hubs. King County 's vaccine requirement has been in effect since October 2021. COVID-19 vaccine verification requirements for most businesses in King County have been in effect since October of 2021. Customers can use their vaccine cards or a photo of a vaccine card, documentation from a medical record or vaccine provider, or a printed certificate from MyIRMobile.com to enter establishments already requiring vaccine proof. In-person customer service counters will continue to remain open. ", "Our COVID-19 response must continue to adapt to the difficult, changing reality of this pandemic. We must act now and act boldly to change the trajectory of the virus and keep our communities safe. The updated booster shots will target Omicron variants that are spreading and also the original strain of the COVID virus. To learn more about this policy change, read our blog post. For general questions about COVID-19 in Washington State call the Washington State COVID-19 Information Hotline at 1-800-525-0127. As a father, Neve says this requirement gives him piece of mind when he returns home to his three-year-old, who can't get the vaccine. That includes medical facilities like hospitals, pharmacies, outpatient and dental facilities, long-term care settings, correctional facilities, taxis and ride-hail vehicles. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination record card or photo of card. We must act now and act boldly to change the trajectory of the virus and keep our communities safe. For worksites with 50 or more employees, outbreaks with 10 or more confirmed cases must be reported to the state Department of Labor and Industries. Dr. Jeff Duchin with Public Health - Seattle & King County confirms a man in his 50s died of coronavirus. Vaccine mandate for King County 27 Oct 2021, 5:52 am Save The new vaccine mandate went into effect yesterday, October 25. Executive departments will begin to implement their Future of Work plans, which set out how services will be delivered moving forward, whether thats in-person, remotely, or a hybrid of both. 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. The latest setting on King County's dial is a vaccine mandate to enter restaurants, bars, and non-essential businesses. Updated (bivalent) booster vaccines are now available. For Pamela Carpio, the owner of Knee High Stocking and Jeepney, she thinks that it is the right thing to do. isolate away from others if you are ill, quarantine away from others if you are not up-to-date on your vaccinations and are exposed to someone with COVID-19, and get tested when possible if you have symptoms or are exposed. 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. King County has received complaints about 150 businesses as of last week that members of the public feel haven't been complying with a new countywide policy requiring patrons to show proof of. We made that call on our own and we think it's absolutely the right thing to do, and we're prepared to stand behind that. dropped its vaccine-verification requirement, These Seattle-area bars and restaurants are still requiring masks and proof of vaccination, What you need to know about mask, vaccine rules at Seattle-area arts and music events, pushed up the timeline for lifting Washingtons COVID-19 mask requirements for schools and businesses, Seattle Public Schools to lift mask mandate, but some say its too soon, Some, but not all, students and educators shed their masks in Washington schools after mandate drops, Seattle, King County prepare for return to in-person work, lifting mask requirements, How to get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster in Washington state, Should you still wear a mask after mandates lift? A negative Covid-19 test from within 72 hours will also be accepted. 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. Everyone age 6 months and older can get a COVID-19 vaccine. And King County members of the Washington Nightlife Music Association, a coalition of independently owned music venues, last month called on government officials to implement a vaccination-check mandate and the development of a statewide vaccine verification system. At a news . Since this policy was adopted, over one-quarter of a million King County residents have gotten vaccinated. Link/share our site at kingcounty.gov/covid/vaccine, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers, Wikang Tagalog/Filipino Tagalog/Filipino, For community and faith-based organizations, Snapshot of the COVID-19 Vaccines (WA Dept. To learn more about this policy change, read our blog post. Many public-facing customer service locations will still temporarily operate remotely, and more details on their reopening will be shared at a later date. This gives employees enough time to schedule an appointment for the Pfizer,. . 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. Associate Professor of Medicine and Allergy and Infectious Diseases at University of Washington School of Medicine, Dr. Paul Thottingal, National Infectious Disease Lead for Kaiser Permanente, Dr. Learn more about vaccination for youth at kingcounty.gov/vaccine/youth. Modeling produced by the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) predicted the vaccine verification could have a significant positive impact in reducing infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. Seattle and King County moved to drop its vaccine mandate on Feb. 6 after nearly two years in effect. King County . 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. 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.. Learn more about eligibility and getting vaccinated in King County. It comes as the state and the nation pass another major pandemic milestone. 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. See L&I Requirements and Guidance for Preventing COVID19 and reporting cases. 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. 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. The changes come as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations fueled by omicron are declining. 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. 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. For general questions about COVID-19 in Washington State call the Washington State COVID-19 Information Hotline at 1-800-525-0127. Some, like Max Heigh, a Filipino business owner in the area, think it's necessary to stay safe amid the pandemic. Following the record-breaking Omicron surge, were have seen a steady reduction in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and hospital capacity is improving. State employees and workers in private health care and long-term care settings will have until October 18 to be fully vaccinated. Seattle Times staff reporters Elise Takahama and Joseph OSullivan contributed to this report. King County Executive Anyone needing COVID-19 vaccine can visit KingCounty.gov/vaccine to find a vaccine in their neighborhood. "The way that this works the best is if people make the right choices," Mayor Jenny Durkan said in an interview with Q13 News. IHME's projections show that COVID-19 transmissions will extend beyond 2021. said Dr. Christopher Murray, director of IHME. of Health, PDF), COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses Reference Guide for All Ages, Infographic about boosters if you are immuno-compromised, King County's Strategy for Vaccine Delivery, Principles for Equitable Vaccine Delivery, Data dashboard: Summary of COVID vaccination among King County residents. It's been a challenging time. 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 By June 2020, Gov. For children aged 6 months4 years who completed the Moderna primary series and if it has been at least 2 months since their last dose. Employers will still be required to tell workers when there is a suspected or confirmed coronavirus case. 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. 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. Chase Gallagher, Executive Office, 206-263-8537, Main phone: 206-263-9600 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. Vaccine verification for large events is no longer required statewide. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is approved for anyone 6 months and older. 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. 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. Treatments such as Paxlovid antiviral treatment are available for people who get infected and may be at higher risk. At Swedish, we continue to see ongoing outbreaks that put the most vulnerable members of our communities at risk. Additionally, King County and the City of Seattle announced their remote employees would begin returning to offices in March. Children . SEATTLE Dozens of Washington state workers have filed a lawsuit against Gov. 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. Although our mandatory vaccine verification requirement is ending, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations remain elevated and layered COVID-19 prevention remains important. As employers prepare to implement the new vaccine verification program over the next several weeks, the Chamber is ready to be their champion. Dow Constantine. 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. Immune compromised children and adults should also get booster doses when eligible. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. King County data shows that since the omicron surge began, residents who are unvaccinated are 27 times more likely to be hospitalized. Helping state workers who were fired due to Washington State's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. 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