FAX: 206-296-0194, Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer, Public Health Seattle & King County, Dr. Faisal Khan, Director, Public Health Seattle & King County, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers, rescinded the countys COVID emergency proclamation today, King County, State of Washington, and City of Seattle announce vaccination requirement for most employees, private health care and long-term care workers | August 2021. Local health jurisdictions, some school districts, and individual businesses may still choose to require masks. King Countys local indoor mask order ended concurrently with the states, Public Health Seattle & King County announced last month. If you have a disability and need accommodation, email [email protected]. It's the right thing to do for our workers, our customers, our economy, and the health and vitality of our city. After extensive engagement with community partners, small businesses, venues, and hospitals, Seattle is proud to implement a vaccination verification policy. Dow Constantine. We need help from the community, and we need more people to get vaccinated. King County officials made the announcement Wednesday. The requirement applies to state workers, regardless of teleworking status. RELATED: Washington state troopers, other workers sue over vaccine mandate. Too many people, adults and children, are ending up in hospitals across the state and here in our county, threatening to overwhelm the system. 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. King Co proof of vaccine mandate starts Monday; Restaurants try - KOMO CDC recommends the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines over J&J for both initial and booster vaccinations. Masks and Face Coverings | Washington State Department of Health 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. 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. Washington State Enacts Strictest Vaccine Mandate Yet For Educators King County to require proof of vaccination or negative test for many 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 case was filed . 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. Stay connected withQ13News on all platforms: DOWNLOAD:Q13 News and Weather AppsWATCH:Q13 News LiveSUBSCRIBE:Q13 FOX on YouTubeDAILY BRIEF: Sign Up For Our NewsletterFOLLOW:Facebook|Twitter|Instagram. Charge an office visit or other fee to the recipient if the only service provided is a COVID-19 vaccination. 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. That work is why we have one of the highest vaccination rates and the lowest cases, hospitalizations, and deaths of any major American city. To protect customers and workers, preserve hospital capacity and help prevent business closures, King County will require verification of full vaccination status or a negative test to enter outdoor public events of 500 or more people and indoor entertainment and recreational establishments and events such as live music, performing arts, gyms, restaurants, and bars. 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. 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. Vaccinations are free and health insurance is not required. Editors note: This post is no longer being updated. 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. While the significant benefits of vaccination have not changed, the acute threat to our community and healthcare system has decreased. From the beginning of this pandemic, our aim has been to protect the health of our community and save lives. 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. Ben Brooks on LinkedIn: Google Releases A/B Testing Partners to Replace Less than 2% of employees were . This is the first coronavirus death reported in the U.S. The vaccination verification policy will no longer be in effect as of March 1. Masks will still be required in some settings. Masks are now credited, by public health officials, with limiting the spread of Covid-19. This mandate comes as Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to rise in King's County. 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. 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. The mandate will also apply to outdoor events with more than 500 people in attendance. 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. 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. A negative Covid-19 test from within 72 hours will also be accepted. For the latest information on masking requirements in the Seattle area, Washington state and U.S., clickhere. But Washington state health . Jay Inslee made the announcement on Feb. 28. Multiple King County business owners and major sports teams had already implemented their own vaccination verification policies. King County 's vaccine requirement has been in effect since October 2021. 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. King County reaches deal with 'majority' of unions on vaccine mandate 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. In addition to the employee vaccine mandate, Executive Constantine also rescinded the countys COVID emergency proclamation today. 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. Of the 51 deaths in King County from COVID-19 over the last 28 days, Duchin said 90% have been people 65 years or older. Time is running out on free COVID tests and vaccines; what then? Gov. 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. Current COVID-19 guidance - King County, Washington King County Executive
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. Here's what to know about Washington's new COVID-19 guidelines Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan hopes that the new order will make public spaces safer for everyone while slowing the spread of infections. The number of new cases of COVID are leading to far too much suffering. 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.