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. 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. Washington State sets vaccine mandate for government and health care workers. Only children under 12 are exempted from the mandate. Seattle Times staff reporters Elise Takahama and Joseph OSullivan contributed to this report. No matter what lies ahead, the more vaccinated we are as a community, the safer we will be from this dangerous virus. 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. King Countys local indoor mask order ended concurrently with the states, Public Health Seattle & King County announced last month. "After extensive engagement with community partners, small businesses, venues, and hospitals, Seattle is proud to implement a vaccination verification policy.". "For the people who say I just dont want it well then youre making a choice. Request an accommodation If you have a disability and need accommodation, email publichealthaccommodations@kingcounty.gov. A lot of people just want to go out, go on with their lives. Establishing a vaccine mandate for employees and contractors was critical to keeping employees and the public safe, and keeping services flowing. The last mandate in Washington, an order requiring masks in health care and correctional facilities, is coming to an end. 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. The number of new cases of COVID are leading to far too much suffering. 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. . Comments made at a city . 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. 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. Vaccine mandate for King County 27 Oct 2021, 5:52 am Save The new vaccine mandate went into effect yesterday, October 25. "King County's vaccine verification program will prevent infections, hospitalizations and deaths, safeguard our healthcare system, and provide safer spaces for the public and for workers.". He says the businesses started requiring vaccine proof in August. For the latest information on masking requirements in the Seattle area, Washington state and U.S., clickhere. Jay Inslee said. 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. To enter a restaurant you must now show proof of vaccination. Vaccination verification is just one part of a multi-faceted COVID-19 prevention strategy. 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. Updated (bivalent) booster vaccines are now available. 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. 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. 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. I am not covering everything about this mandate, but it is easy to look up if you have questions. Compare vaccine types: Snapshot of the COVID-19 Vaccines (WA Dept. Charge an office visit or other fee to the recipient if the only service provided is a COVID-19 vaccination. Ce bouton affiche le type de recherche actuellement slectionn. Jay Inslee made the announcement on Feb. 28. Masks are still required statewide on public transit and in health care and congregate living spaces. After extensive engagement with community partners, small businesses, venues, and hospitals, Seattle is proud to implement a vaccination verification policy. The vaccine will be covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance, and the cost of the vaccine will be covered for people who are uninsured. The vaccination verification policy will no longer be in effect as of March 1. Washington State Department of Health guidance. To enter a restaurant you must now show proof of vaccination. King County health officer Dr. Jeff . RELATED: The Divide Podcast: Seattle's mayor defends indoor vaccine requirement. The countys order includes exceptions for take-out orders, outdoor dining, and grocery stores. Preventing further COVID infections is a powerful way to protect the health care system. The requirements are similar to those recently enacted in New York, San Francisco and New Orleans, as well as in Washington states Clallam and Jefferson counties. Below are resources and current guidance to help keep your workers and customers safe. Thanks to a tight-knit partnership with King County, we are getting information and tools ready to make compliance simple, and we have built a support network of experts to help businesses of all sizes throughout our region. Visit Getting vaccinated in King County for vaccine locations and appointments. 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. Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. the Washington State Nurses Association, and . We applaud King County for requiring vaccinations and encourage other counties to do the same. . Public health highly recommends following the current vaccination guidance which includes a bivalent booster dose for the best protection. 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. It was three years ago this week that the first case of Covid-19 in the nation was detected and reported in King County. 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. 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. Updated: 10:18 PM PST March 3, 2022. 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 . There are nearly 300,000 King County residents who are eligible but have not yet started their vaccination series. 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. KING COUNTY, Wash. - Starting Monday, a new health order goes into effect across King County. Today our experts advise that immunity has reached a level that allows these requirements to be relaxed. Seattle and King County Thursday announced an indoor vaccine requirement for restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters, and other entertainment venues. More people are now vaccinated and protected against severe COVID-19. Masks are now credited, by public health officials, with limiting the spread of Covid-19. 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. Too many people, adults and children, are ending up in hospitals across the state and here in our county, threatening to overwhelm the system. Masks will still be required in some settings. Many public-facing customer service locations will still temporarily operate remotely, and more details on their reopening will be shared at a later date. Say your preferred language when connected. Beginning March 1, 2022, the vaccine verification requirement will no longer be in effect in King County. . It doesnt affect outdoor dining, take-out orders and shopping in places including grocery stores. Public Health continues to encourage everyone to be fully vaccinated and to be prudent about the use of masks in indoor settings., Chase Gallagher, Executive Office, 206-263-8537, Jamie Housen, Mayor's Office, 206-798-5002, Main phone: 206-263-9600 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. 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; People 12 years old and up must show proof that they are fully vaccinated or provide a negative COVID test taken. 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. Following the record-breaking Omicron surge, were have seen a steady reduction in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and hospital capacity is improving. "We must act now and act boldly to change the trajectory of the virus and keep our communities safe," Durkan said. 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The intent of the policy was to give additional COVID-19 protection to employees and patrons in high-risk indoor settings while providing more time for people to get fully vaccinated. Dow Constantine. RELATED: State workers seek exemptions to Washington COVID-19 vaccine mandate. 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. The statewide and King County mask requirements for outdoor gatherings of over 500 people ended Feb. 18. 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. The changes come as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations fueled by omicron are declining. While the significant benefits of vaccination have not changed, the acute threat to our community and healthcare system has decreased. The case was filed . Businesses and organizations may still choose to implement their own vaccine verification policies. 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. 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. We are moving in the right direction, and can continue taking additional steps toward recovery, said King County Executive Dow Constantine. Some, like Max Heigh, a Filipino business owner in the area, think it's necessary to stay safe amid the pandemic. To date, more than three million vaccine doses have been administered in King County. 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. To date, more than three million vaccine doses have been administered in King County. 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. 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. other official immunization record from within or outside the United States, including from your health care provider. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. 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. 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. 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 . 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. Vaccinations are free and health insurance is not required. Vaccine Mandate Frequently Asked Questions ; Transportation ; Safe Communities . For isolation and quarantine requests contact the King County COVID-19 Mobile Isolation and Quarantine Program at 206-848-0710. The governor made the announcement at a press conference on Monday at Kaiser Permanente in Seattle. 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. This button displays the currently selected search type. Everyone age 6 months and older is currently eligible for COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots. But local leaders announced Wednesday that those verification. Today our experts advise that immunity has reached a level that allows these requirements to be relaxed, said Executive Constantine. FAX: 206-296-0194. 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. 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. There will be no personal exemptions, but employees can apply for religious exemption. More than 150 restaurants and bars in King County have already implemented some form of vaccine requirement to enter, The Seattle Times reported. From the beginning of this pandemic, our aim has been to protect the health of our community and save lives. Request an accommodation TTY: Relay: 711 ", "Our COVID-19 response must continue to adapt to the difficult, changing reality of this pandemic. says. The requirement applies to state workers, regardless of teleworking status. "King County's vaccine verification program will prevent infections, hospitalizations and deaths, safeguard our healthcare system, and provide safer spaces for the public and for workers. 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. Additionally, King County and the City of Seattle announced their remote employees would begin returning to offices in March. 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. 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