COVID-19 News

From the Washington State Department of Health:

We are currently in Phase 1B tier 1 of vaccine distribution

The vaccine is available to anyone 65 and older, and all people 50 and older who also live in a multigenerational household. This is in addition to populations eligible during phase 1A including health care workers at high risk for COVID-19 infection, first responders, people who live or work in long-term care facilities, and all other workers in health settings who are at risk of COVID-19. Learn more about who gets the vaccine and when.

• Use the Phase Finder to check your COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility:
  https://form.findyourphasewa.org/210118771253954
• Use the Phase Finder to check your COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility:
  https://form.findyourphasewa.org/210118771253954
• To find Vaccine Locations from the Washington State Department of Health: https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/Immunization/VaccineLocations
• Visit Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Information page:
  https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/Vaccine
• For further information about getting vaccinated in King County, please see https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/vaccine/distribution.aspx(External link).

The Washington State Department of Health has announced the next phase of vaccine prioritizations, which includes all people older than 70 years and people older than 50 in multigenerational households in January 2021, followed by high-risk critical workers 50+, people with 2 or more co-morbidities, and high risk critical workers under 50 years old.

Governor Inslee announced a plan called "Healthy Washington-- Roadmap to Recovery," a new COVID-19 phased recovery plan. The plan goes into effect January 11, and groups counties into one of eight regions for the purpose of phased reopening.

Currently in Phase 1, King County is in the Puget Sound/Central region, along with Snohomish and Pierce counties.

To move to Phase 2, our region must meet the following four metrics:

• Decreasing COVID-19 cases
• Decreasing COVID-19 hospital admissions
• ICU occupancy of less than 90%
• COVID-19 test positivity rate of less than 10%

Additional metrics must be met and maintained to remain in Phase 2.

Read more on the Governor's blog.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced an additional $70 million for business grants. $50 million of this is for Round 3 of the Working Washington Small Business grants(External link). The remainder will go towards funding qualified businesses that applied in earlier rounds of our resiliency grant program.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR ROUND 3?

These grants are prioritized for:

• Small businesses with annual revenues of $5 million or less in 2019 AND Businesses in the sectors that are most impacted by the recent public health measures or sectors that have experienced significant, cumulative impacts. Examples include full-service restaurants, fitness centers, bowling alleys and music and event venues.
• Certain nonprofits may also be eligible if they have a primary business activity that falls into a similar category as noted above. Example – a nonprofit full-service restaurant or nonprofit music venue.
• If Commerce is able to fund all the eligible applicants from the priority pool, and funds remain, we may be able to provide grants to additional businesses or nonprofits from other sectors or who have annual revenues larger than $5 million.
  
  

WHAT DOES THE GRANT PAY FOR:

• The maximum award grant will be up to $20,000.
• The grant can only cover expenses or costs incurred due to COVID-19 and that were necessary to continue business operations.

Priority will be given to applications received by Dec. 11, 2020. APPLY NOW

Governor Jay Inslee announced Sunday that new restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19 would take effect Monday, Nov. 16th at midnight (12:01 am Tuesday), except for where noted as in the case of restaurants (detailed below). If the activity is not listed, it should follow its current guidance. All K-12/higher education and childcare is exempt from the new restrictions and will follow current guidance. These restrictions do not apply to courts and court-related proceedings.

• Indoor social gatherings with people from outside your household are prohibited.
• Outdoor social gatherings should be limited to 5 people from outside your household.
• Restaurants and bars are closed for indoor service. Outdoor dining and to-go service is permitted. Outdoor dining must follow the outdoor dining restriction. Table size limited to 5 for outdoor dining. These restaurant restrictions go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, November 18.
• Fitness facilities and gyms are closed for indoor operations. Outdoor fitness classes may still occur but they are limited by the outdoor gathering restriction listed above. Drop off childcare is closed.
• Bowling Centers are closed for indoor service.
• Miscellaneous Venues: All retail activities and business meetings are prohibited. Only professional training and testing that cannot be performed remotely is allowed. Occupancy in each meeting room is limited to 25% or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
• Movie Theaters are closed for indoor service. Drive-in movie theaters are still permitted and must follow the current drive-in movie theater guidance.
• Museums/Zoos/Aquariums are closed for indoor service.
• Real Estate open houses are prohibited.
• Wedding and Funeral receptions are prohibited. Ceremonies are limited to no more than 30 people.
• In-store retail limited to 25% indoor occupancy and must close any common/congregate non-food related seating areas. Food court indoor seating is closed.
• Religious services limited to 25% indoor occupancy or no more than 200 people, whichever is fewer. No choir, band, or ensemble shall perform during the service. Soloists are permitted to perform. Facial coverings must be worn at all times by congregation members and no congregational singing.
• Professional Services are required to mandate that employees work from home when possible, and to close offices to the public. If they remain open, occupancy is restricted to 25%.
• Personal services are limited to 25% of maximum occupancy.
• Long-term Care Facilities are allowed outdoor visits only. Exceptions can be made for essential support person and end-of-life care.
• Youth (school and non-school) and adult sporting activities limited to outdoor only for intrateam practices, masks required for athletes.

A household is defined as the individuals residing in the same domicile.

Local jurisdictions are allowing businesses to open back up, and with reopening comes guidelines to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Some businesses are offering outdoor areas to help keep patrons safe, featuring outdoor seating and tables under tents. With the onset of winter, businesses want to heat these outdoor areas for the comfort of their customers. Several fire and life safety issues must be considered when heating outdoor tents.

The City's Guidelines on Heating Outdoor Tents is intended to help businesses safely heat tents installed for outdoor dining and other commercial activities. Heat sources covered by this guide include electric, natural gas, or liquefied petroleum gas such as propane or butane.

For more information about business use of outdoor space, see the City's Guidelines for Use of Outdoor Space under "Safe Start - Stay Healthy" Phased Reopening.

Please contact Pat Lawler, Building Official at (425)-877-2297 for questions about tent heating. For general questions, contact the City of Woodinville Development Services Dept. at planning@ci.woodinville.wa.us. We are committed to responding to requests quickly to support businesses reopening.

Many of the traditional ways in which we celebrate Halloween involve contact with nonhousehold members in large group settings. This year, it is important to plan early and identify safer alternatives to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. The Washington Department of Health is offering the following considerations to help protect individuals and communities.

General Considerations

Regardless of how you choose to celebrate Halloween, it is important to keep the following in mind:

1. Wear a cloth face covering. Make sure the face covering fits snugly over your nose and mouth.

2. Avoid confined spaces. Outdoor activities are safer than indoor activities. If participating in an outdoor event is not possible, and you choose to attend an indoor event, avoid crowded, poorly ventilated, and fully enclosed indoor spaces. Increase ventilation by opening windows and doors to the extent that is safe and feasible based on the weather.

3. Avoid close contact with people outside of your household. Stay at least 6 feet away from all other people who are not part of your own household.

4. Wash or sanitize your hands often. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

5. Stay home if you are sick or were recently exposed to someone with COVID-19. If you are sick, have symptoms of COVID-19, or have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, stay home and away from others.

All City park facilities, including park restrooms, sport courts, and playground equipment, are open with some restrictions to promote social distancing. Park users should take care to practice good hygiene and social distancing. The City is not able to guarantee daily cleaning/sanitization of restrooms and playgrounds, so please use at own risk.

This graphic provides an updated snapshot of what City facilities are currently open, and what changes are planned for future re-opening phases.

Following the installation of new turf and other upgrades, the Woodinville Sports Fields are opening back up to individuals and groups on September 1, 2020. Restroom facilities at Wilmot Gateway Park and Rotary Community Park will also be open to the public starting September 1.

As King County remains in Phase 2 of COVID-19 reopening, some limitations and conditions will be required for safe field and restroom use. Those include:

Fields

• Practices are allowed but games are not
• Players are limited to groups of five in separate parts of the field
• Six feet must remain between players with no contact
• Each sports league or club must have a "return to play" safety plan
• Parents and household members may not congregate on sidelines

Restrooms

• Restrooms may not be cleaned or sanitized daily. Use at your own risk.
• Users must maintain 6 feet of distance from others
• Users should allow one stall or sink of distance from others
• Proper hand washing is encouraged

Click here to book a sports field rental or view availability.

From The Governor's Blog:

Modifications related to weddings and funerals, restaurants, bars, and fitness and entertainment centers.

Gov. Jay Inslee and Secretary of Health John Wiesman today announced changes to “Safe Start,” Washington’s phased approach to reopening. The changes target activities that data have shown provide a higher risk of COVID-19 exposure.

It has been four months since the governor announced the state’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order. Since then, cases in Washington have risen from 2,000 to almost 50,000, and deaths have increased from 110 to nearly 1,500.

To combat the rising numbers, the governor and secretary are changing guidance and regulations around restaurants, bars, and fitness centers, as well as weddings and funerals. The changes will also affect family entertainment centers, movie theaters and card rooms.

“We do not take these steps lightly. We know every prohibition is a challenge for individuals and business owners,” Inslee said during a press conference Thursday. “But we know that if we fail to act, we expose people and businesses to even greater risk down the line.”

Weddings and funerals

Under the new guidance, ceremonies will remain permitted, but receptions are prohibited. Ceremonies must adhere to current guidance; for all phases, maximum indoor occupancy is 20%, or up to 30 people, whichever is less, as long as social distancing can be observed.

The changes will take effect in two weeks, on Aug. 6, providing a grace period for weddings and funerals previously scheduled to take place or readjust their plans.

Restaurants

Restaurant guidance will now require parties to be members of the same household in order to dine indoors. Outdoor dining and take-away remains available for small parties from different households.

Table size for dine-in in Phase 3 will be reduced to five individuals and occupancy reduced from 75% to 50%.

Restaurants must also close gaming and social areas, such as pool tables, dart boards and video games.

Bars will be closed for indoor service, but can continue outdoor service. Alcohol service inside of restaurants must end by 10 p.m.

These regulations take effect in one week, on July 30.

Fitness centers

The number of individuals allowed to use fitness centers and other physical health venues at a given time will also be reduced.

In Phase 2, only five individuals — not including staff — will be allowed for indoor fitness services at a time. This includes gyms, fitness studios, and indoor pools, ice rinks, volleyball courts, and tennis facilities. These are limited to small group instruction or private training.

Fitness center occupancy in Phase 3 will be reduced to 25%. All group fitness classes are limited to no more than 10, not including the instructors.

The changes are effective July 30.

Entertainment regulations

Indoor family entertainment and recreation centers — like mini golf, bowling alleys, and arcades — are prohibited from opening, as well as indoor card rooms. Indoor movie theater occupancy will be reduced from 50% to 25% in Phase 3.

Face coverings

In addition to those changes, Wiesman announced an expansion of his face coverings order that will go into effect Saturday, July 25.

The expansion will require face coverings in all common spaces, such as elevators, hallways and shared spaces in apartment buildings, university housing and hotels, as well as congregate setting such as nursing homes.

“We’re losing the momentum we had during the early months of this response,” Wiesman said. “Looking ahead to the fall and hopes of schools reopening, we must dig back in to regain control. Fewer, shorter, and safer interactions are crucial. Staying home is still safest but if you go out, keep it quick, keep your distance from others, and wear your face covering.”

Eviction moratorium extension

Inslee also announced an extension of the state’s eviction moratorium to Oct. 15. Details on the extension will be released in the coming days.

In addition to the moratorium, the extension also directs Governor’s Office staff to convene an informal work group of landlords and tenants to discuss potential changes to the order in the short-term and long-term as the pandemic progresses, including the prospect of rent increases.

“I know we are all tired of how long this emergency has gone on, and the pain it has inflicted in our households and our communities,” Inslee said. “But we all remain steadfast in our refusal to allow COVID-19 to overwhelm our society, and we will lean on each other to get the job done. This is not the easy thing to do, but it is the right thing to do. These prohibitions are part of our approach, but they only supplement what we really need, which is for individuals to continue to make safe decisions and adhere to healthy practices.”