New King County Vaccination Requirements Begin Oct. 25

SEATTLE — King County will stand up its vaccine verification program in late October, requiring patrons to provide proof of full vaccination status or a recent negative COVID-19 test before attending most public events. Starting Oct. 25, customers will have to meet the verification requirement to gain entry to sporting events, music venues and movie theaters, and before dining or drinking indoors at bars and restaurants.

Officials said waiting more than a month to begin the program gives unvaccinated people a chance to start or complete their immunization series before the rules take effect, and provides businesses and venues several weeks to prepare. Very small restaurants and bars, with seating for 12 or less, will have until Dec. 6 to comply.

Here's where the new requirements will apply:

• Outdoor events with 500 people or more – such as professional and collegiate sports and entertainment events.
• Indoor entertainment and recreational events or establishments – such as professional and collegiate sports, entertainment, performing arts, museums, theatre, live music, gyms, and conferences/conventions.
• Restaurants and bars (including indoor dining) – this does not apply to outdoor dining, take-out customers, and places that aren't primarily used as a restaurant, such as grocery stores.

King County Executive Dow Constantine joined Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and the county's health officer, Dr. Jeff Duchin, to outline the details of the public health order at a news conference Thursday outside a Columbia City restaurant.

"Our COVID-19 response must continue to adapt to the difficult, changing reality of this pandemic," Duchin said. "The delta virus is much more contagious, airborne, causes severe illness, and is seriously stressing out hospitals and healthcare providers. King County's vaccine verification program will prevent infections, hospitalizations and deaths, safeguard our healthcare system, and provide safer spaces for the public and for workers."

Duchin said King County's COVID-19 metrics remain at their highest levels since January, with case counts highest among 18 to 49-year-olds and unvaccinated people at a significantly elevated risk for hospitalization and death. Currently, King County is averaging one new COVID-19 hospitalization every hour, and a death every eight hours.

A recent analysis by the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation found a vaccine verification requirement could help prevent up to 75,000 new infections in King County over six months. Within six months of Oct. 25, officials will revisit the program to determine if it remains necessary.

"Taking these steps to stop the spread of COVID-19 now should also help reduce the risk of potentially more disruptive measures being required in the coming months," Duchin said. "I want to be clear that this order is not intended to be permanent ... but it will likely be needed until disease rates come down, hospitalizations are at a more manageable and stable level for our health care system, and more adults and children are vaccinated and protected from serious infections."

King County joins Jefferson and Clallam counties who already initiated similar requirements, along with several other jurisdictions across the United States and Canada. Many of Seattle's music venues and sports teams had already announced their own requirements voluntarily.

King County's program will not require an app, and will accept several forms of vaccination proof:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination record card or photo of card.
• Printed certificate or QR code (available in late September) from MyIRMobile.com.
• Other official immunization record from within or outside the United States, including from your health care provider. A photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable.

Those who remain unvaccinated or are unable to show their status will need to show proof of a negative PCR test within the last 72 hours or a negative rapid test on-site, if they are available. The requirements will not apply to children under 12, who are not yet eligible for vaccination.

Read more about the vaccine verification program, and find answers to frequently asked questions, on the King County website.