99% of city employees have complied with Seattle's vaccine mandate, Mayor's Office says May Jenny Durkan's office announced that as of roughly 2:30 p.m., 99% of the city's 11,000 employees have. Jay Inslee made the announcement on Feb. 28. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. In-person customer service counters will continue to remain open. other official immunization record from within or outside the United States, including from your health care provider. Businesses should continue to support employees in getting vaccinated and staying home when sick. Local restaurants struggle with loss of business due to King Co vaccine 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. 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. WA's COVID state of emergency will lift on Oct. 31, Inslee says 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. King County 's vaccine requirement has been in effect since October 2021. Public Health continues to encourage everyone to be fully vaccinated and to be prudent about the use of masks in indoor settings.. 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 worksites with 50 or more employees, outbreaks with 10 or more confirmed cases must be reported to the state Department of Labor and Industries. This button displays the currently selected search type. Washington state, Seattle and King County announce COVID vaccination Everyone age 6 months and older can get a COVID-19 vaccine. Anthony Anton, president and CEO of the Washington Hospitality Association, said in a statement Thursday that the announcement creates different standards for different types of eating places and no additional standards for most businesses. 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, said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health Seattle & King County. 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. AboutCareersPrivacyTermsContact UsAdvertise With Us, King County, Seattle, vaccination mandate, TFC News, Lalaine Ignao | TFC News Seattle, Washington. For isolation and quarantine requests contact the King County COVID-19 Mobile Isolation and Quarantine Program at 206-848-0710. All Rights Reserved. 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. To date, more than three million vaccine doses have been administered in King County. RELATED: The Divide Podcast: Seattle's mayor defends indoor vaccine requirement. KING COUNTY, Wash. - Gov. Officials say they have reached an agreement with a "majority" of unions on a soon-to-be-implemented vaccine mandate for King County employees. 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. King County Executive Youre making a choice that by doing that you cant participate in things that are really important to society.". Less than 2% of employees were . King Countys masking requirement for large outdoor events ended Feb. 18. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan hopes that the new order will make public spaces safer for everyone while slowing the spread of infections. Jay Inslee announced on Monday that all Washington state employees as well as heath and long-term care providers are required to be fully vaccinated. A negative Covid test from within 72 hours will also be acceptable. If businesses, schools, and government come together, we can help protect our community and help stop this pandemic sooner rather than later.". 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. 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.. Immunization program - King County - King County, Washington But the overall mandate is temporary and will be re-evaluated for a possible extension in April 2022. 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. 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. At Swedish, we continue to see ongoing outbreaks that put the most vulnerable members of our communities at risk. In addition: Individuals who are immunocompromised may want to take extra precautions. King County Executive 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. Vaccination is our best shield against this deadly virus. As a critical care nurse here in Seattle, I can tell you that our health care system has reached its breaking point. It doesnt affect outdoor dining, take-out orders and shopping in places including grocery stores. Businesses and organizations may still choose to implement their own vaccine verification policies. Washington State sets vaccine mandate for - The New York Times Chan's Place in Woodinville. Dr. Jeff Duchin with Public Health - Seattle & King County confirms a man in his 50s died of coronavirus. 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. Chase Gallagher, Executive Office, 206-263-8537, Main phone: 206-263-9600 KUOW - King County will require proof of vaccination at bars Establishments will be responsible for checking vaccination proof or negative test status. King County ending vaccination verification policy on March 1 as new 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. 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. We need help from the community, and we need more people to get vaccinated. 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. King Countys local indoor mask order ended concurrently with the states, Public Health Seattle & King County announced last month. 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. 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. We don't want to keep going backwards so if we have to take it to this level, then that's what we need to do, Heigh said. 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. Isolation and quarantine requests Seattle, King County dropping COVID-19 vaccine mandate | king5.com The vaccine mandate first went into effect mid-2021. Hospitals are really stretched right now across Washington State. Washington state is expanding its COVID-19 vaccine mandate to include all public, charter and private school teachers and staff plus those working at the state's colleges and universities . 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. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines continues to be critical for preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Dow Constantine. 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. Lukas Crippen joined the Port of Seattle Fire Department nine years ago and has gained leadership experience along the way. 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. Visit Getting vaccinated in King County for vaccine locations and appointments. 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. Establishing a vaccine mandate for employees and contractors was critical to keeping employees and the public safe, and keeping services flowing. There are nearly 300,000 King County residents who are eligible but have not yet started their vaccination series. Jay Inslee said. 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. RELATED: Washington records over 7,000 deaths from COVID-19. King County Executive 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. Duchins order is not meant to be permanent and will be reviewed within six months after the implementation date, officials said. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is approved for anyone 6 months and older. 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. King County to require proof of vaccination or negative test for many Indoor entertainment and recreational events or establishments such as professional and collegiate sports, entertainment, performing arts, museums, theatre, live music, gyms, and conferences/conventions. SEATTLE - Seattle and King County Thursday announced an indoor vaccine requirement for restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters, and other entertainment venues. 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. COVID-19 vaccinations | Novel coronavirus information Seattle and King County moved to drop its vaccine mandate on Feb. 6 after nearly two years in effect. With over 85 percent of King County residents having received at least their first vaccine dose, vaccine verification will help keep people safe and keep businesses open. Unvaccinated officers apply for jobs at Brier Police Department - KING-TV A look at who's exempt from Washington's COVID-19 vaccine mandate For the latest information on masking requirements in the Seattle area, Washington state and U.S., clickhere. King County to end mask mandate as Washington nears 70% vaccination TTY: Relay: 711 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Today, after a record-breaking Omicron surge, COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in King County are dropping, and hospitals are better able to care for patient loads. Executive Constantine reissued the order pertaining to Metro service reductions which will remain in effect. 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. Say your preferred language when connected. 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.. Safeway's AdWith the Fred Meyer weekly flyer, you can find sales for a It's been a challenging time. Officials say more than 98% of King County's 15,000 employeesand 4,000 hired sinceprovided proof of vaccination, while less than 2% were . 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. King County health officer Dr. Jeff . 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. State officials accelerated the timeline for lifting the mask requirement initially set to wind down on March 21 after federal officials loosened public health guidelines on face coverings. 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. 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. "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. Port of Seattle on LinkedIn: Lukas Crippen At the City of Seattle, more than 99% of employees provided proof of vaccination or received an accommodation, while less than 1% were separated at that time. Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the status of King Countys mask mandate for large outdoor events. By June 2020, Gov. 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. 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. "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. Timeline: A look back at Washington state's COVID-19 response TTY: Relay: 711 Masks and Face Coverings | Washington State Department of Health Time is running out on free COVID tests and vaccines; what then? These steps will be important to protect against both current and future COVID-19 surges. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination record card or photo of card. The Seattle Metro Chamber strongly and actively supports vaccination because we know it is the path out of this pandemic and toward an equitable economic recovery. 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.. Today our experts advise that immunity has reached a level that allows these requirements to be relaxed, said Executive Constantine. Ben Brooks on LinkedIn: Google Releases A/B Testing Partners to Replace Although our mandatory vaccine verification requirement is ending, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations remain elevated and layered COVID-19 prevention remains important. 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., "The steady decline in positive cases is much needed positive news.