Summary

King County submitted a plan to the state Department of Health to allow for limited openings of businesses in a modified Phase 1 of the Safe Start plan, including allowing some indoor seating at restaurants.

Story

King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci, and King County Board of Health Chair Joe McDermott today submitted a plan to the state Department of Health that would allow limited and modified openings for a wide range of businesses and personal activities.

The county’s application includes recommendations from King County local health officer Dr. Jeff Duchin that would:

• allow all outdoor recreation permitted in Phase 2 in Gov. Inslee's Safe Start plan
• expand opening indoor fitness studios for one-on-one activities
• allow restaurants to begin opening indoor seating at 25% of normal capacity
• allow hair stylists and other personal services at 25% capacity

“Our plan to safely reopen our region’s economy is based on the latest data, recommendations by Public Health experts, and insight from communities and businesses,” said Executive Constantine. “We are ready to take the next careful step toward an equitable recovery that benefits everyone who calls King County home.”

The state is expected to decide within the next several days whether it will accept the modified plan which was developed in consultation with Public Health experts, community leaders, businesses, and the King County Council.

Public Health – Seattle & King County recently posted a new dashboard featuring key indicators, with targets that help inform reopening decisions. Based on trends toward all the targets, public health officials and policymakers believe these openings, done safely, will enable much-needed economic activity while also protecting the public and managing the spread of disease in our community.

With the limited re-opening, maintaining the safety principles that led to the success against the outbreak has never been more important. These include continuing to practice physical distancing of 6 feet or more, minimizing contact with others outside the home, frequent hand washing or sanitizer, use of cloth face coverings in public, and avoiding group gatherings and poorly ventilated spaces.

Activity Areas and Limitations

Outdoor Recreation

(Staffed outdoor tennis facilities, guided ATV, paddle sports, and horseback riding, guided fishing, go-cart tracks, ORV/motocross facilities, and participant-only motorsports)

• All activities may operate subject to Phase 2 guidance. (Part 1, Part 2)

Fitness

(Staffed indoor fitness studios providing private instruction for personal fitness training that requires access to specialized equipment, including but not limited to gymnastics, weight and resistance training, martial arts, yoga, and similar instructor-led fitness services)

• All outdoor activities at studios may operate subject to Phase 2 guidance, which limits the occupants to no more than five people outside of a household (excluding the instructor).
• Indoor fitness studios may operate subject to Phase 2 guidance but is limited to one on one activities only.

Social Gatherings

• Only allowed outdoors with five or fewer people outside the household.

Additional construction

(All construction, including those activities for which social distancing may not be maintained and the start of new construction projects, is authorized to resume.)

• All activities may operate subject to Phase 2 guidance.

Manufacturing operations

• All activities may operate subject to Phase 2 guidance.

Real estate (residential and commercial)

• All activities may operate subject to Phase 2 guidance with the exception that at no time may an office's occupancy be higher than 25% and indoor services are limited to 30 minutes.

In-home/domestic services

• As outlined in Phase 2 guidance which has not yet been released by the State.

In-store retail

• All non-essential retail activities may operate subject to Phase 2 guidance with the exception that at no time may an establishment's occupancy be higher than 15% and indoor services are limited to 30 minutes.
• Businesses are directed to provide signage encouraging indoor visits to less than 30 minutes. At no time may face to face interactions last longer than 30 minutes.

Personal services

(Cosmetologists, Hairstylists, Barbers, Estheticians, Master Estheticians, Manicurists, Nail Salon Workers, Electrologists, Permanent Makeup Artists, Tattoo Artists, Cosmetology Schools and Esthetics Schools)

• All activities may operate subject to Phase 2 guidance with the exception that at no time may the number of clients served be more than 25% the number capable of being served at any one time, or 1 person if it is a single bed/chair studio.

Professional services

(Accountants, architects, attorneys, engineers, financial advisors, information technologists, insurance agents, tax preparers, and other office-based occupations that are typically serving a client base)

• All activities may operate subject to Phase 2 guidance with the exception that at no time may an establishment's occupancy be higher than 25% and indoor services are limited to 30 minutes.
• Businesses are directed to provide signage encouraging indoor visits to less than 30 minutes. At no time may face to face interactions last longer than 30 minutes.

Photography

• All activities may operate subject to Phase 2 guidance.

Pet grooming

• All activities may operate subject to Phase 2 guidance with the exception that at no time may an establishment's occupancy be higher than 25%.

Restaurants

• All outdoor dining activities may operate subject to Phase 2 guidance at 50% outdoor capacity with all tables and chairs maintaining 6 feet of distance. Additional or new outdoor seating would be allowed subject to maintaining 6 feet of distance between tables and chairs, as well as receiving a city permit as is typically needed.
• All indoor dining services may operate subject to Phase 2 guidance with the exception that at no time may the number of customers served be more than 25% of the tables provided such tables and chairs are more than 6 feet away from each other.
• Public Health – Seattle & King County will release guidance by Friday, June 5th to advise how additional outdoor seating may offered in the lowest risk manner. Restaurants will need to go through the normal process within their city to seek approval to expand outdoor seating.
  
  

Relevant links

• King County Safe Start Plan Variance Application (PDF)
• King County Application Letter (PDF)
• Safe Start for King County - Working to Gradually Reopen the Local Economy
• Safe Start Plans and Guidance for Reopening
• COVID-19 Reopening Guidance for Businesses and Workers
• Public Health publishes new dashboard for COVID-19 key indicators

Quotes

Our plan to safely reopen our region’s economy is based on the latest data, recommendations by Public Health experts, and insight from communities and businesses. We are ready to take the next careful step toward an equitable recovery that benefits everyone who calls King County home.

King County residents and workers rose to the call to flatten the curve of COVID-19 infection, at great personal cost, and our actions have made a difference and saved lives. We are ready now to safely step up economic activities and start on the path to recovery, while rebuilding our economy into one that provides stability and opportunity more broadly and equitably to everyone in King County.

Lives have been saved by our collective effort to follow the advice of our local public health professionals during the pandemic. By continuing to work together, and guided by science and data, we can ease the very real economic and financial pain caused by the spread of this virus in a safe and measured way.

For more information, contact:

Chase Gallagher, Executive Office, 206-263-8537