PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Governor Jay Inslee left all Washington counties in their current phases on Tuesday, despite concern of a fourth COVID surge.
More than a dozen Washington counties were at risk of rolling back from Phase 3 to 2, including Lewis, Yakima, King and Snohomish. Under Phase 2, spaces like restaurants and movie theaters have to reduce capacity inside to 25% and caps small indoor gatherings at 5 people.
Inslee said he is enacting a two-week pause on rollbacks. At the end of two weeks, each county will be re-evaluated.
On Monday, Inslee announced plans that allow spectator events and religious and faith based organizations to increase capacity with ‘vaccinated sections’ in place.
Under the new spectator events guidance:
- Outdoor facilities may add vaccinated sections until their total capacity is 50% maximum or
22,000 people, whichever is lower, inclusive of both vaccinated and unvaccinated sections.
Outdoor unvaccinated spectators cannot exceed 9,000 people. - Indoor facilities may add vaccinated sections until their total capacity is 50% maximum, or
maximum 2000 people, whichever is lower, inclusive of both vaccinated and unvaccinated
sections. Indoor unvaccinated spectators in Phase 2 cannot exceed 200 people, or 300 for rooms
greater than 100,000 square feet of space—and indoor unvaccinated spectators in Phase 3
cannot exceed 400 people, or 600 for rooms greater than 100,000 square feet of space.
Under the new religious and faith based organization guidance:
- Religious and faith based organizations with vaccinated-only sections are allowed to increase overall facility capacity to 50% in Phase 2.
Under the updated guidance the following are acceptable as proof of full vaccination: Vaccination card (which includes name of person vaccinated, type of vaccine provided and date last dose administered) OR a photo of a vaccination card as a separate document OR a photo of the attendee’s vaccine card stored on a phone or electronic device OR documentation of vaccination from a healthcare provider electronic health record or state Immunization Information System record.
Self-reported vaccination records that are not verified by a health care provider cannot be accepted.