King County Announces New COVID-19 Vaccine Verification Requirement

On September 16, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced a new vaccine verification requirement for many businesses and activities. Beginning October 25, 2021, the County requires customers and attendees to show proof that they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Types of businesses and activities that now must require verification include:

• Indoor dining at restaurants
• Bars
• Gyms
• Arts and entertainment venues
• Sporting events

The County will review this policy no later than six months from October 25, including for possible extension based on future outbreak conditions. Public health officials are clear that COVID-19 is more likely to spread in crowded outdoor settings and indoor venues. This latest policy is meant to best protect employees and the public, help businesses stay open, and incentivize vaccinations as we fight to move beyond this latest spike caused by the highly contagious Delta variant.

Help is Available for Your Business

The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the County to assist in the outreach efforts to implement this new requirement. Seattle Metro launched kcvaxverified.com, which includes resources such as Frequently Asked Questions and more details on the new policy, such as which businesses are impacted, what qualifies as proof of vaccination, and plans for enforcement. We continue to receive details about the policy and implementation from Public Health – Seattle & King County; Seattle Metro will update their new website as we learn more from the County, including providing a toolkit with resources like:

• Guidelines for employers
• Signage
• Employee training guidance
• Implementation checklist
• Vaccine verification messaging points
• Updated FAQs

Stay tuned to kcvaxverified.com over the coming days for this toolkit and other updates.

The City of Mercer Island wants to support local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contact Sarah Bluvas, Economic Development Coordinator, at sarah.bluvas@mercerisland.gov to let us know how we can help.