King County is exploring a possible vaccine verification requirement for hospitality businesses and other public-facing establishments and venues. The policy would be like those enacted in other major cities like New York City and San Francisco. The policy would go into effect at least five weeks after it is fully developed to allow enough time for eligible residents to receive their vaccination series.
County officials are also working with a variety of groups including the business community on a system to streamline the verification process.
[Toolkit: Toolkit — Vaccine and mask options (and requirements) for your business]
Also announced today, several Washington sports teams including the Seahawks, Sounders, Huskies, Cougars, Mariners and Kraken will adopt a vaccine requirement or proof of a recent negative test for entry.
Similar vaccine requirements were put in place in Jefferson and Clallam counties over Labor Day weekend. Those restrictions are directed at restaurants and bars only.
The association’s state and local government affairs teams continue to work with elected and public health officials to ensure the hospitality industry’s interests are represented when new orders are issued. We also have a mask and vaccine toolkit that is updated regularly with resources to help you operate a safe establishment and comply with state and local laws as new orders are issued.
Several state and local mask and vaccine mandates have been enacted in the last few weeks in response to the rapid spread of the delta variant and lagging vaccination rates, which have resulted in a spike in hospitalization rates across the state. More mandates are likely to follow in the coming weeks. As always, the Washington Hospitality Association will share that information with members as soon as possible.
Be sure to check out and bookmark the Current Guidance and Requirements page on the association’s Coronavirus Resource Hub for the latest information on public health orders and recommendations.