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Jay Inslee in response to the state's vaccine mandate. 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. King. The Seattle Times reports from March 1, businesses will be free to impose their own vaccination requirements if they choose, but there. Many public-facing customer service locations will still temporarily operate remotely, and more details on their reopening will be shared at a later date. CDC recommends the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines over J&J for both initial and booster vaccinations. More than 98% of King Countys nearly 15,000 employees provided proof of vaccination at the time the mandate launched and the nearly 4,000 employees hired since, while less than 2% were separated at that time due to the requirement. King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and others in the community support the order, according to the news release. While the significant benefits of vaccination have not changed, the acute threat to our community and healthcare system has decreased. "We must act now and act boldly to change the trajectory of the virus and keep our communities safe," Durkan said. "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.". Public Health continues to encourage everyone to be fully vaccinated and to be prudent about the use of masks in indoor settings.. Following the record-breaking Omicron surge, were have seen a steady reduction in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and hospital capacity is improving. The vaccine mandate first went into effect mid-2021. 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. Washington State Department of Health guidance. 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. Jay Inslee's COVID-19 vaccine mandate went into effect Monday. The vaccination verification policy will no longer be in effect as of March 1. Seattle, WA 98104 Seattle and King County Thursday announced an indoor vaccine requirement for restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters, and other entertainment venues. Multiple King County business owners and major sports teams had already implemented their own vaccination verification policies. The entire order is not expected to be permanent. For everyone aged 5 years and older if it has been at least 2 months since your last dose. 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 Executive 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. 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. Two lawmakers in Washington state want the state and local governments to bring back employees who were fired because they didn't comply with COVID-19 pandemic vaccine mandates. Ce bouton affiche le type de recherche actuellement slectionn. 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. 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. The latest setting on King County's dial is a vaccine mandate to enter restaurants, bars, and non-essential businesses. 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. "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. 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. But to me, I think starting the vaccine cards, I think that's a little bit above, over, over the fence there. Having been on the front lines since the beginning, and now responding to this latest surge, we know this is not sustainable for our communities or our caregivers. TTY: Relay: 711 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. The steady decline in positive cases is much needed positive news. However, providers cannot charge the vaccine recipient the balance of the bill. 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. The vaccine verification policy in King County will no longer be in effect as of March 1. "We are at a critical point in this pandemic, with high levels of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and no certainty as to what will follow the Delta variant," said King County Executive Dow Constantine. 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. A negative Covid-19 test from within 72 hours will also be accepted. Businesses will no longer be required to check customers proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test, to enter restaurants and bars, indoor recreational events and establishments, or outdoor events. Updated (bivalent) booster vaccines are now available. 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. By June 2020, Gov. The order is. "But Seattle is not immune to the surge in cases and hospitalizations caused by the Delta variant. Jay Inslee announced a face mask mandate across the state. 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. Vaccine verification for large events is no longer required statewide. Less than 2% of employees were . 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. From the beginning of this pandemic, our aim has been to protect the health of our community and save lives. For City of Seattle employees, this means that departments will begin to bring more than 5,000 employees who have been remote back to the office based on business needs and work plans. Vaccine verification requirements loosened statewide and in King County on March 1. As Washington and King County drop masking and vaccination requirements this month, what arts groups are doing is varied, with many performing arts groups extending such requirements through May. RELATED: State workers seek exemptions to Washington COVID-19 vaccine mandate. It's been a challenging time. Vaccine mandate for King County 27 Oct 2021, 5:52 am Save The new vaccine mandate went into effect yesterday, October 25. 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. . 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 statewide and King County mask requirements for outdoor gatherings of over 500 people ended Feb. 18. For the latest information on masking requirements in the Seattle area, Washington state and U.S., clickhere. At this stage in the pandemic, we have higher levels of immunity from vaccination and from many people having had COVID-19 infections. Vaccinations are free and health insurance is not required. 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. 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. Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. KING COUNTY, Wash. - Starting Monday, a new health order goes into effect across King County. Seattle and King County moved to drop its vaccine mandate on Feb. 6 after nearly two years in effect. Employees who refuse to get vaccinated would face losing their jobs, Gov. See L&I Requirements and Guidance for Preventing COVID19 and reporting cases. 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. For isolation and quarantine requests contact the King County COVID-19 Mobile Isolation and Quarantine Program at 206-848-0710. Establishing a vaccine mandate for employees and contractors was critical to keeping employees and the public safe, and keeping services flowing. the Washington State Nurses Association, and . All Rights Reserved. That's the plan of 14th District State Rep. Chris Corry of Yakima. Duchins order is not meant to be permanent and will be reviewed within six months after the implementation date, officials said. Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the status of King Countys mask mandate for large outdoor events. 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. The announcement comes as Washington is experiencing a severe increase in COVID cases and hospitalizations in every county, due to the Delta variant, with the overwhelming majority of cases and hospitalizations being among unvaccinated Washingtonians. I am not covering everything about this mandate, but it is easy to look up if you have questions. "It just seemed like the tool at our disposal to keep our community safer," said Lucas Neve. These workers live in every community in our state, working together and with the public every day to deliver services, Inslee said. 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. Small restaurants, defined as those with seating capacity for fewer than 12 people, will phase into the mandate on December 6. The Citys actions then and now have always been informed by the science of the pandemic and recommendations of public health officials an approach based on data and dedicated to saving lives. of Health, PDF). Washingtons statewide mandate for schools and businesses lifted March 12; Gov. Weve seen an 80% decrease in COVID-19 incidence rates and a 60% decrease in hospitalization rates since COVID-19 cases peaked locally in mid-January. FAX: 206-296-0194. So whoever comes in here has to be vaccinated. 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. There's just no way around it. Businesses are free to impose their own vaccine requirements, but there is no countywide requirement. King County data shows that since the omicron surge began, residents who are unvaccinated are 27 times more likely to be hospitalized. The City will continue to evaluate in-person, remote, and hybrid arrangements to ensure the needs of Seattle residents are met. 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. 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. Vaccine verification was a win-win: our businesses got to keep their staff on payroll and keep their doors open, while prioritizing safety. For businesses, it is important to: We are moving in the right direction, and can continue taking additional steps toward recovery, said King County Executive Dow Constantine. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines continues to be critical for preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. 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. 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 . 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. RELATED: Washington state troopers, other workers sue over vaccine mandate. 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. COVID-19 information King County becomes the third Washington county to put down such a requirement. 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 order applies inside restaurants and bars. Learn more about vaccination for youth at kingcounty.gov/vaccine/youth. IHME's projections show that COVID-19 transmissions will extend beyond 2021. said Dr. Christopher Murray, director of IHME. 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 vaccine mandate was an effective and necessary tool for protecting the health and safety of City workers and the public we serve, said Mayor Harrell. Private businesses can still require masks if they choose, and local governments can enact, continue or reimplement mandates. 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. RELATED: The Divide Podcast: Seattle's mayor defends indoor vaccine requirement. 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. After extensive engagement with community partners, small businesses, venues, and hospitals, Seattle is proud to implement a vaccination verification policy. Dr. Jeff Duchin with Public Health - Seattle & King County confirms a man in his 50s died of coronavirus. The policy was supported by healthcare organizations, business groups, and arts and culture organizations. Businesses and workplaces have an important role to play in helping slow the of COVID-19. Vaccine Mandate Frequently Asked Questions ; Transportation ; Safe 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. It's the right thing to do for our workers, our customers, our economy, and the health and vitality of our city. The new vaccine mandate went into effect yesterday, October 25. More people are now vaccinated and protected against severe COVID-19. Preventing further COVID infections is a powerful way to protect the health care system. Anyone needing COVID-19 vaccine can visit KingCounty.gov/vaccine to find a vaccine in their neighborhood. 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. 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. Following the record-breaking Omicron surge, were have seen a steady reduction in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and hospital capacity is improving. Enter your zip code in Washington's Vaccine Locator tool or check our Getting Vaccinated page to find a vaccination site near you. Employers will still be required to tell workers when there is a suspected or confirmed coronavirus case. 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. CDC recommends the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines over J&J for both initial and booster vaccinations. 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.