COVID-19 Information
COVID-19 information pages are no longer updated.
See the CDC's COVID website for current information and trends.
COVID-19 information pages are no longer updated.
See the CDC's COVID website for current information and trends.
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Renewing Your Drivers License in the time of COVID-19
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThe DOL wants YOU to renew online.
Washington’s Department of Licensing has moved to online services. If you need to meet with a representative in person, you’ll need an appointment. Take care to plan ahead, because social distancing and other safety measures are limiting the DOLs capacity, and appointments fill quickly.
"To ensure residents with urgent needs — think identification for meds or employment, not an enhanced upgrade — can get an appointment, we’re asking those with non-urgent requests to go online, hold off, or find another way until the health emergency is over."
If your license or permit expired between March 1 - September 30 this year, the DOL has extended the renewal period. Extensions vary. Please visit the DOL website for details.
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Vaccine Timeline: Advancing to Phase 1B-Tier2 on March 22
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkOn March 4, Governor Inslee announced that the state would advance to Phase 1B-Tier2 on March 22.
Phase 1B-Tier2 includes essential workers in the following groups:
- First responders, law enforcement, and firefighters.
- Grocery store workers.
- Workers in agriculture and food processing.
- Public transit employees.
- Corrections employees at jails and detention centers.
Phase 1B2 also includes anyone 16 and older who is either pregnant or has a disability that puts them at higher risk.
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Vaccination Update: Washington Moves into Phase 1B
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkAs of Jan. 18, 2021, all older adults in Washington state over the age of 65 are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
People 50 and older who live in multigenerational households are also eligible if they meet certain conditions. Due to limited supply of vaccine, not everyone will be able to access a vaccine right away. Access will improve as the supply chain widens and providers in King County receive more doses.
Don't fall into this category? Follow this link to use the Department of Heath's Phase Finder so you can know when it is your turn.
Visit our vaccine page for informational videos and other information about vaccines.
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Governor Announces Tighter COVID-19 Restrictions Including In-Home Gatherings
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkUpdated: On November 15, Governor Jay Inslee announced a four-week tightening of COVID-19 restrictions that will begin Monday, November 16 at midnight.
In response to what the Governor and state officials have dubbed an “explosive situation,” the series of updated measures are aimed at pushing back this third wave of the pandemic.
Washington has “entered a phase of accelerated or exponential growth of the outbreak,” State Health Officer Dr. Kathy Lofy said. “The number of cases reported each day in our state has more than doubled from about 1,000 cases a day reported, to more than 2,200 cases reported per day. If that doubling time continues, in two more weeks, we’ll be seeing over 4,000 cases per day.”
“Today we are in a more dangerous position than we were in March,” the Governor continued during the special weekend press conference, but he is confident that Washington can knock down the virus again. To do that, he is implementing a series of modified restrictions, including:
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Indoor gatherings with people outside the household will be prohibited unless participants:
- Quarantine for fourteen days (14) prior to the social gathering; or
- Quarantine for the seven (7) days prior to the gathering, and receive a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 48-hours prior to the gathering.
- Outdoor gatherings are limited to no more than five people.
- Restaurants and Bars are closed for indoor dine-in service. Outdoor dining and to-go service are permitted, provided that all outdoor dining must comply with the requirements of the Outdoor Dining Guidance. Table size for outdoor dining is limited to a maximum of five (5) people. These modified restaurant and bar restrictions go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, November 18, 2020.
- Fitness Facilities and Gyms are closed for indoor operations. Outdoor fitness classes are permitted but are subject to and limited by the outdoor social gathering restriction listed above.
- Bowling Centers are closed for indoor service.
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Miscellaneous Venues: All retail activities and business meetings are prohibited. Only professional training and testing that cannot be performed remotely, as well as all court and judicial branch-related proceedings, are allowed. Occupancy in each meeting room is limited to 25 percent of indoor occupancy limits or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
- Miscellaneous venues include: convention/conference centers, designated meeting spaces in a hotel, events centers, fairgrounds, sporting arenas, nonprofit establishment, or a substantially similar venue.
- Movie Theaters are closed for indoor service. Drive-in movie theaters are permitted and must continue to follow current drive-in movie theater guidance.
- Museums/Zoos/Aquariums are closed for indoor service.
- Real Estate: Open houses are prohibited.
- Wedding and Funerals: Ceremonies are limited to a total of no more than 30 people. Indoor receptions, wakes, or similar gatherings in conjunction with such ceremonies are prohibited.
- In-Store Retail shall be limited to 25 percent of indoor occupancy limits, and common/congregate seating areas and indoor dining facilities such as food courts are closed.
- Religious Services are limited to 25 percent of indoor occupancy limits, or no more than 200 people, whichever is fewer. Congregation members/attendees must wear facial coverings at all times and congregation singing is prohibited. No choir, band, or ensemble shall perform during the service. Vocal or instrumental soloists are permitted to perform, and vocal soloists may have a single accompanist. Outdoor services must follow the Outdoor Dining Guidance, found here, applicable to the structure or facility.
- Professional Services are required to mandate that employees work from home when possible and close offices to the public if possible. Any office that must remain open must limit occupancy to 25 percent of indoor occupancy limits.
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Personal Services are limited to 25 percent of indoor occupancy limits.
- Personal service providers include: cosmetologists, cosmetology testing, hairstylists, barbers, estheticians, master estheticians, manicurists, nail salon workers, electrologists, permanent makeup artists, tanning salons, and tattoo artists.
- Long-term Care Facilities: Outdoor visits are permitted. Indoor visits are prohibited, but individual exceptions for an essential support person or end-of-life care are permitted. These restrictions are also extended to the facilities in Proclamation 20-74, et seq. All other provisions of Proclamations 20-66, et seq., and 20-74, et seq., including all preliminary criteria to allow any visitors, remain in effect.
- Youth and Adult Sporting Activities: Indoor activities and all contests and games are prohibited. Outdoor activities shall be limited to intra-team practices only, with facial coverings required for all coaches, volunteers and athletes at all times.
While not as restrictive as March’s “Stay Home Order,” the revised guidelines place an immense financial burden on small businesses. The state is committing an additional $50 million in aid; the details of the financial assistance program will be announced in the coming days. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans through the Small Business Administration are still available to small businesses. (Follow this link for tips from a Mercer Island business owner.)
The restrictions are statewide and will take effect Monday, November 16 at 11:59 PM and will remain in effect until Monday, December 14. The modified restrictions of restaurants, however, will take effect Wednesday, November 18 at 12:01 AM.
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Indoor gatherings with people outside the household will be prohibited unless participants:
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Washington Vaccine Prioritization: Phase 1 Tiers A and B
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkOn January 6, the State DOH released guidance for the next phase of COVID-19 vaccination. The department worked closely with the Governor’s Office to finalize prioritization for phase 1B, which is broken up into four separate tiers.
It’s important to note that Washington is still in phase 1A of vaccinations, and will continue to be for the next few weeks.
Groups eligible for vaccination in phase 1B include:
Phase 1B1 - (Tier 1)
January- All people 70 years and older
- People 50 years and older who live in multigenerational households
Phase 1B2 - (Tier 2)
February- High risk critical workers 50 years and older who work in certain congregate settings: Agriculture; food processing; grocery stores; K-12 (teachers and school staff); childcare; corrections, prisons, jails or detention facilities (staff); public transit; fire; law enforcement
Phase 1B3 - (Tier 3)
March- People 16 years or older with two or more co-morbidities or underlying conditions
Phase 1B4 - (Tier 4)April- High-risk critical workers in certain congregate settings under 50 years
- People, staff and volunteers all ages in congregate living settings:
- Correctional facilities; group homes for people with disabilities; people experiencing homelessness that live in or access services in congregate settings
Additional details of phase 1B will be posted on the state's website.
Many pharmacies, clinics and hospitals are vaccinating people in 1A1 (tier 1), and others have moved to 1A2 (tier 2). While phase 1A is still the priority, the release of phase 1B guidance will help facilities, counties and individuals plan for the months ahead. Once ready to start phase 1B, the state will let communities know how and where to get vaccine.
“Vaccine prioritization decisions are complex, but based in a need for equitable distribution. Our priority has been to get the vaccine to high-priority people first.”
Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah
Nearly 20,000 people across the state weighed in on the prioritization through focus groups, interviews, and surveys over the past few months. This feedback directly informed the state's recommendations for COVID-19 vaccine prioritization and allocation.
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Updates from the City Manager
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkCity Manager Jessi Bon hosted eleven live City situation briefings on Thursdays from March through May. In June, she transitioned to updates via her City Manager's Report.
The May 28 Situation Briefing was the eleventh and final live briefing. City Manager Jessi Bon will continue to update the community on City operations and coronavirus-related information via her City Manager's Report at the beginning of each regular Council Meeting.
Council Meetings are scheduled the first and third Tuesday of each month and are broadcast live on MITV-21 and the Council's YouTube Channel. Meetings begin at 5:00pm.
Links to recent City Manager's Report videos and PowerPoint Presentations are available below.
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Next meeting: January 5
December 1 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
November 17 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
November 2 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
October 20 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
October 6 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
September 15 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
September 1 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
August 4 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
July 21 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
July 7 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
June 16 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
June 9 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
June 2 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
June 1 - Special Live Video Briefing
May 19 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
May 5 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
April 21 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
April 7 - Video and PowerPoint Presentation
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Follow this link to access all eleven Thursday Situation Briefing videos and PowerPoint Presentations.
Have questions? Please email them to: citymanager@mercerisland.gov we will try to address them during the presentation.
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Metro Service Changes
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkMetro has made significant service reductions throughout the region.
Mercer Island’s Community Shuttle route #630, running between Mercer Island and Seattle’s First Hill medical community has been suspended.
Route #204 remains in service, providing North-South service between the MI P&R and the south end QFC shopping area. It is the only intra Island public transportation at this time. Route #240 is operating under the Saturday schedule (10 round trip runs) Monday-Saturday.
Metro has provided an interactive web tool that lists suspended and reduced routes as well as provides assistance finding alternate routes via public transportation. Click here for more information: kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro
Metro has temporarily discontinues fare payments and has moved to rear door bus boarding except for passengers with mobility challenges.
Despite Metro’s service reductions, Access Paratransit is maintaining its traditional service area, hours, and days of service, and may be an option for riders with disabilities for whom fixed route is no longer available even though they are not currently certified for Access service.
Customers with disabilities who are no longer able to reach their essential destinations using fixed-route service can contact the Access Transportation Call Center at 206-205-5000 for assistance with both emergent and ongoing essential transportation needs.
- Customers with disabilities who have emergent transportation needs do not need to be currently certified for Access service.
- Those with an ongoing need for transportation will need to apply for Access service through our temporarily streamlined eligibility process.
For COVID-positive individuals who need to travel for medical care, Metro is currently working with Public Health to create a separate service using dedicated Access vehicles, bus bases, and drivers who have volunteered for the assignment. As we learn more, we will share that information with our customers and community partners.
Trailhead Direct Service slated to begin April 18 has been suspended at this time. This service provides access to trail heads during the busy outdoor hiking season.
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Share Your Good News Stories or Simply Say Thank You!
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkWe could all use a little good news these days. Has a neighbor helped you during these past few months of social distancing? Have you seen someone go above-and-beyond for another member of the Mercer Island community? Do you want to recognize a group for something special they've done to make this time of isolation a little less isolating? We want to hear about it!
Visit our Some Good News page to share your good news stories or say thanks today!
City Facilities and Programs
Open City Facilities
Closed City Facilities
- City Hall
- Luther Burbank Admin Building
- Fire Stations
Events and Programs
- Drop-in Sports at MICEC
- Community Emergency Response Training (CERT)
- Summer Camps
- Summer Celebration!
- National Night Out
- Visit the City's event calendar for more events!
Public Meetings
The City Council is meeting in a hybrid format (in-person and virtually). Visit the Council Connects page to learn how to participate. Boards and Commissions continue to meet virtually.
