Although our mandatory vaccine verification requirement is ending, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations remain elevated and layered COVID-19 prevention remains important. 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It comes as the state and the nation pass another major pandemic milestone. 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. Dow Constantine. To date, more than three million vaccine doses have been administered in King County. Browse all Safeway locations in the United States for pharmacies and weekly deals on fresh produce, meat, seafood, bakery, deli, beer, wine and liquor. The Delta variant is more than twice as contagious as the original COVID-19, which makes increasing vaccination rates even more important to slowing disease spread and protecting people from hospitalization and death. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. IHME's projections show that COVID-19 transmissions will extend beyond 2021. said Dr. Christopher Murray, director of IHME. 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. At this stage in the pandemic, we have higher levels of immunity from vaccination and from many people having had COVID-19 infections. For general questions about COVID-19 in Washington State call the Washington State COVID-19 Information Hotline at 1-800-525-0127. Request an accommodation While the significant benefits of vaccination have not changed, the acute threat to our community and healthcare system has decreased. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines continues to be critical for preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. 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. 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. 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. Vaccinations are free and health insurance is not required. Masks are still required statewide on public transit and in health care and congregate living spaces. This mandate comes as Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to rise in King's County. Masks will still be required in some settings. People ages 12 and older will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative . The governor made the announcement at a press conference on Monday at Kaiser Permanente in Seattle. 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. No appointment needed: most pharmacies, clinics, and Public Health centers now offer drop-in COVID-19 vaccination. Gov. 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. King County Public Health officials said on Tuesday that 70% of residents ages 16 and up had received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson inoculation. Treatments such as Paxlovid antiviral treatment are available for people who get infected and may be at higher risk. That work is why we have one of the highest vaccination rates and the lowest cases, hospitalizations, and deaths of any major American city," said Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan. Everyone age 6 months and older is currently eligible for COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots. King County . 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. SEATTLE - Seattle and King County Thursday announced an indoor vaccine requirement for restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters, and other entertainment venues. 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. The Moderna vaccine is approved for anyone age 6 months to 5 years or age 18 and over. We announced the vaccination verification policy in anticipation of a fall and winter surge in cases. Small restaurants, defined as those with seating capacity for fewer than 12 people, will phase into the mandate on December 6. 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. Compare vaccine types: Snapshot of the COVID-19 Vaccines (WA Dept. There is no cost to you for the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of immigration or health insurance status. Following the record-breaking Omicron surge, were have seen a steady reduction in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and hospital capacity is improving. Establishing a vaccine mandate for employees and contractors was critical to keeping employees and the public safe, and keeping services flowing. An analysis by the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) conducted for King County found that the vaccine verification policy at restaurants, bars, and gyms/fitness centers alone could have a significant positive impact, preventing between 17,900 and 75,900 infections, 421 and 1,760 hospitalizations, and 63 and 257 deaths locally over six months with the order in place. Below are resources and current guidance to help keep your workers and customers safe. 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. 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. 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. Establishing a vaccine mandate for employees and contractors was critical to keeping employees and the public safe, and keeping services flowing. Masks are also still required on school buses a federal requirement, according to Inslees office. 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. So whoever comes in here has to be vaccinated.
"Our data has shown vaccines, masking, and social distancing can reduce the risk of infection and prevent the spread of COVID-19 cases. We must act now and act boldly to change the trajectory of the virus and keep our communities safe. Time is running out on free COVID tests and vaccines; what then? 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. King Countys masking requirement for large outdoor events ended Feb. 18. 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. It's the right thing to do for our workers, our customers, our economy, and the health and vitality of our city. 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. Charge an office visit or other fee to the recipient if the only service provided is a COVID-19 vaccination. 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. "Vaccination is our best shield against this deadly virus. Vaccination and getting boosters when eligible are the most important tools available to prevent severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection. The mandate will also apply to outdoor events with more than 500 people in attendance. Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. RELATED: Washington state troopers, other workers sue over vaccine mandate. 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. After extensive engagement with community partners, small businesses, venues, and hospitals, Seattle is proud to implement a vaccination verification policy. How can I get the COVID-19 vaccine in King County? More people are now vaccinated and protected against severe COVID-19. Only children under 12 are exempted from the mandate. See L&I Requirements and Guidance for Preventing COVID19 and reporting cases. We have the tools to slow this down and to prevent not only needless suffering but also the ongoing disruption of our lives. Updated: 10:20 PM PDT September 13, 2021. Employers should follow Washington State Labor & Industries (L&I) requirements for COVID-19 in the workplace: Although Washington States public health emergency proclamations for COVID-19 ended October 31, 2022, COVID19 is still a recognized workplace hazard that employers must address. Immune compromised children and adults should also get booster doses when eligible. 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. The order is. Jay Inslee made the announcement on Feb. 28. How to tackle that choice, How to navigate the COVID pandemic in the Seattle area: resources on masks, tests, vaccines and more, At-home COVID tests and omicron: What you need to know, Mapping the pandemics spread across Washington. 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. To date, more than three million vaccine doses have been administered in King County. Members will have a partner in this every step of the way. King County Executive
For more business resources about this policy change, please visit the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce's website: kcvaxverified.com, Infographic about why the vaccine verification policy is lifting on March 1, 2022, Link/share our site at kingcounty.gov/verify, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers, To learn more about this policy change, read our blog post, Encourage employees to stay home when sick. 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. High levels of preventable COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and increased deaths driven by the highly contagious delta variant prompted the order. It is the mission of public servants and those providing health care to serve our fellow Washingtonians. People 12 years old and up must show proof that they are fully vaccinated or provide a negative COVID test taken. Anyone needing COVID-19 vaccine can visit KingCounty.gov/vaccine to find a vaccine in their neighborhood. 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. Some local businesses throughout Seattle have been requiring proof of vaccination from customers for weeks. King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and others in the community support the order, according to the news release. 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. For more information on King County's COVID-19 vaccine verification policy, visit KingCounty.gov/verify. Vaccine verification was a win-win: our businesses got to keep their staff on payroll and keep their doors open, while prioritizing safety. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is approved for anyone 6 months and older. But the overall mandate is temporary and will be re-evaluated for a possible extension in April 2022. 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 this Monday October 25, people ages 12+ will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result to enter many establishments and events within King County . By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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; After a year-and-a-half of COVID-19 controlling and taking away lives, vaccines are the only way to stop this pandemic, prevent more dangerous strains from developing, restore our freedoms and our safety, and return our society to normalcy. Preventing further COVID infections is a powerful way to protect the health care system. Businesses and organizations may still choose to implement their own vaccine verification policies. Learn more about eligibility and getting vaccinated in King County. Editors note: This post is no longer being updated. For Chris Lacayan, another Filipino business owner, he thinks the mandate is too much. RELATED: The Divide Podcast: Seattle's mayor defends indoor vaccine requirement. To enter a restaurant you must now show proof of vaccination. Chase Gallagher, Executive Office, 206-263-8537, Main phone: 206-263-9600 Officials say more than 98% of King County's 15,000 employeesand 4,000 hired sinceprovided proof of vaccination, while less than 2% were . 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. In-person customer service counters will continue to remain open. Treatments such as Paxlovid antiviral treatment are available for people who get infected and may be at higher risk. STG is proud to support this policy to keep the arts safe for our community. I am not covering everything about this mandate, but it is easy to look up if you have questions. Starting February 6, the King County Executive terminated Executive Order ACO-8-28-EO pertaining to the vaccination mandate for contractors. Updated (bivalent) booster vaccines are now available. 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. Jefferson and Clallam counties instituted indoor vaccine mandates for restaurants and bars starting September 4. 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.