SEATTLE (AP) — Beginning March 1, Washington’s most populous county will no longer require COVID vaccination checks to enter restaurants, bars, theaters and gyms.
King County officials made the announcement on February 16. The Seattle Times began reporting on March 1 that businesses are free to make their own vaccination requirements of their choice, but there will be no county-wide requirements.
Since last fall, indoor restaurants and cultural entertainment venues have been required to verify their customers’ vaccination status or negative COVID tests as a condition of entry.
The policy also applies to outdoor events of more than 500 people, such as concerts and sporting events.
“Our public health experts believe now is an appropriate time to lift vaccine validation given the county’s high vaccine coverage and the decline in new cases and hospitalizations,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said.
Constantine and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell also announced that they will begin gradually bringing back thousands of county and city employees who have been working remotely for nearly two years. An estimated 7,000 employees have been working remotely in King County and about 5,000 in Seattle.
