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Dear Partners, Colleagues and Stakeholders,
Governor Jay Inslee issued new statewide restrictions on social gatherings and businesses in response to the surge of COVID-19 across Washington state. Seattle was the initial epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in America, and while we have one of the lowest rates of cases of any major city, we are not immune to the virus surging in our communities.
During the first two weeks of November, Seattle had more than 1,550 residents diagnosed with the virus, which is nearly 20% of Seattle’s total cases. The Seattle case count per 100,000 residents is more than five times higher than what it was at the end of the summer, rising from 40.8 cases per 100,000 residents to over 232 cases per 100,000 residents. Cases severe enough to require hospitalizations are four times higher than at the end of the summer, increasing from 1.3 hospitalizations per 100,000 residents to 6.1. The number of people in Seattle currently in the hospital with COVID-19 has increased quickly over the past week and is the highest since April 2020.
Every step of the way our local officials, residents, and businesses have understood how dangerous and deadly COVID-19 is to our communities. Governor Inslee and public health officials are rightfully raising alarm bells for surging cases and hospitalizations.
The below statewide restrictions will last until December 14, 2020. This note is not an exhaustive list of all restrictions. Please visit the state’s website for a full list of restrictions.
Effective on November 16, all indoor social gatherings with people outside your household are prohibited. Outdoor gatherings can continue, but are limited to five people outside of your household. We know that prolonged social indoor gatherings is one of the main drivers of the COVID-19 surge.
Business activity will be limited as well. Effective November 16, in-store retail is limited to 25% occupancy, which represents a change from the current 30% occupancy limit. All personal services – like hair salons – are limited to 25% occupancy, which is a decrease from the previous 50% occupancy limit.
Effective November 18, all indoor dining at restaurants and bars is prohibited. Outdoor dining and takeout service can continue, and table occupancy is limited to five guests per table. This represents a change in previous guidance, which allowed indoor dining at 50% capacity and six guests per table.
COVID-19 guidance for child care facilities and schools remains unchanged. Learning pods created to help with child care and virtual learning can also continue, and are not subject to the indoor gathering restriction.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the City of Seattle has worked quickly to launch COVID-19 relief programs including rent relief, expanding shelter for people experiencing homelessness, grocery vouchers for working families, direct cash assistance for immigrants and refugees, and financial assistance to small businesses. Residents and businesses can find a list of existing COVID-19 relief resources and policies on this website.
As we navigate the Covid-19 civil emergency, Seattle's Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) Ordinance continues to be a critical support for our City’s workers and for protecting public health. Seattle's PSST Ordinance requires employers to provide employees who work in Seattle with paid leave:
- To care for themselves or a family member for a physical or mental health condition,
- To attend medical appointments,
- For a critical safety issues related to domestic violence or sexual assault,
- When a family member’s school or place of care is closed,
- When their workplace is closed by public health official for health reasons, and
- For employers with businesses of 250 or more full-time equivalent employees have closed for any health or safety reason.
The City continues to take steps to increase access to paid sick leave and
support the health and safety of Seattle workers. In March, two amendments to the PSST Ordinance were made to expand the number of instances where employees can use paid sick and safe time hours to meet the emerging needs caused by COVID-19.
Additionally, the City passed a new temporary ordinance, the Gig Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance, that provides paid sick and safe time rights to certain gig workers from Transportation Network Companies (licensed according to Seattle Municipal Code 6.310) and Food Delivery Network Companies (FDNCs) that arrange for delivery of groceries, prepared food, or beverages. This law became effective on July 13, 2020 and allows certain gig workers to take 24-hour increments of paid leave to care for their own health and safety, or the health and safety of a family member, under qualifying circumstances during the Covid-19 emergency.
For questions regarding PSST and the Gig Worker PSST Ordinances please call the Office of Labor Standards (OLS) at 206-256-5297 or visit our website at: https://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards and we can help you navigate through Seattle labor laws and Covid-19 updates.
The City asks residents to please sign up for Alert Seattle, which is an important way to get emergency alerts and notifications from the City.
Members of the public can track the current level of COVID-19 in Seattle and King County on Public Health – Seattle & King County’s data dashboard. The dashboard is updated daily.
As we head into the holiday season, our instinct is to come together and celebrate with our loved ones. But the reality is that, out of public health necessity, this year’s holiday celebrations will look and feel different. It will be difficult, but we are at a crucial point in the pandemic when our actions will shape our ability to return to normal life in the months to come. Everyone who lives and works in Seattle must mask up, avoid gatherings, especially all indoor social gatherings, and follow all public health guidance. It’s up to all of us to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect our communities, particularly our most vulnerable.
Thanks for your partnership as we work to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
Sincerely,
Jeneé Jahn
Office of Labor Standards Interim Director
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