Inslee Updates Rules For Restaurants, Taverns Under Phase 2

OLYMPIA, WA — Gov. Jay Inslee has released updated requirements for restaurants and taverns, as eight Washington counties move into the second phase of the state's reopening plan.

State health officials on Monday approved the three latest requests, granting an expedited timeline for reopening in counties with a population below 75,000 and with no new coronavirus cases for three weeks. The tentative start date for phase 2 in the rest of the state is June 1.

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Before restaurants can welcome diners again, they must enact more than a dozen new rules:

1. Hand sanitizer should be available for all staff and patrons.
2. Bar seating areas must be closed off to guests.
3. If the restaurant does not have table service, they must have protocols in place to ensure social distancing at food pick-up stations and any available seating.
4. All parties must be limited to five or fewer guests.
5. Overall occupancy cannot exceed 50 percent of the establishment's total occupancy, as determined by the fire code. Outdoor seating does not count toward the total but must follow all other requirements.
6. Tables must be spaced at least six feet apart, or separated by a physical barrier.
7. Customers are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings any time they are not seated, including when leaving the restaurant or going to the restroom.
8. Buffets and salad bars will not initially be allowed but could be permitted under additional guidance.
9. All restaurants that offer table service must keep a daily log of customers, including contact information and listing when they arrived. The logs will be used for potential contact tracing and must be kept by the restaurant for 30 days.
10. Any menus provided to diners must be single-use.
11. All table condiments must be single-use or sanitized between each visitor.
12. Restaurants must have a plan to ensure physical distance in all lobbies, waiting areas and payment counters.
13. It is strongly recommended that the same staff member that takes a table's order also brings the food, beverages, and utensils, and processes payments.

On top of the requirements for guests, employees must maintain a six-foot distance between each other and customers. Restaurants are also asked to minimize work in narrow or enclosed areas and stagger start times and breaks. Businesses are required to provide protective equipment as needed, face coverings must be worn by all employees, and each worker will be screened for symptoms at the start of every shift.

Read more about the new guidelines for restaurants here.
Find all available guidance for reopening businesses here.