Click here to read Gov. Inslee’s full announcement.

“Gov. Inslee orders sweeping restrictions on indoor gatherings, restaurants, bars, gyms as COVID-19 cases surge in Washington state”

“Social, economic and cultural life in Washington will grind to a halt at 11:59 p.m. Monday night, as Gov. Jay Inslee orders broad restrictions and shutdowns for restaurants, theaters, gyms and all indoor gatherings in an effort to slow the state’s burgeoning coronavirus epidemic.

“Inslee, Sunday morning, ordered restaurants and bars to shutdown indoor service and to limit outdoor service to parties of five or less. Indoor gyms and fitness centers must also shutdown. Same with movie theaters, bowling alleys and museums. Indoor gatherings with people outside your household will be prohibited unless participants have quarantined and tested negative.

“‘Today, Sunday, November 15, 2020, is the most dangerous public health day in the last 100 years of our state’s history,’ Inslee said in prepared remarks. ‘A pandemic is raging in our state. Left unchecked, it will assuredly result in grossly overburdened hospitals and morgues; and keep people from obtaining routine but necessary medical treatment for non-COVID conditions,'” by David Gutman, The Seattle Times. Read more

• Editor’s note: Exception to the indoor gatherings rule: People can gather indoors if they all quarantine for seven days prior and test negative for COVID-19 no more than 48 hours before the gathering.

According to the Governor’s Office, the new restrictions include:

• Restaurants and bars won’t be able to offer indoor service. Outdoor dining with up to five people per table and to-go orders will be allowed. According to a document from the governor’s office, these restrictions start at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday this week.
• Retail will be limited to 25% capacity inside stores, including grocery stores. Retail also must close any common seating areas, such as food courts in malls.
• Religious services will be limited to whichever is smaller: 25% occupancy indoors or fewer than 200 people. Choirs, bands, and ensembles won’t perform during services, but soloists will be able to. Facial coverings will be required for congregation members, who won’t be allowed to sing.
• Gyms and fitness facilities will be closed to indoor activity. Outdoor fitness classes can happen, but they’re limited by the outdoor gathering restriction.
• Movie theaters will close to indoor activity, while drive-ins will still be allowed under current guidance.
• Museums, zoos, aquariums, bowling centers will close for indoor service.
• Real estate open houses will not be allowed.
• Wedding and funeral receptions will not be allowed, and ceremonies will be limited to 30 guests or fewer.
• At “miscellaneous venues” (as defined previously) such as conference centers, hotel meeting spaces, and sports arenas, retail activities and business meetings will not be allowed, and only professional training and testing that can’t be done remotely is allowed. Meeting room occupancy is restricted to whichever is fewer: 25% or 100 people.
• Professional services (as defined previously), such as attorneys, engineers, insurance agents, and other office-based work that serves clients, have to close offices to the public and require employees to work from home when possible. If they’re open, occupancy is limited to 25%.
• Personal services (as defined previously), such as hairstylists, manicurists, and estheticians, are limited to a maximum occupancy of 25%.
• Sporting activities for youth and adults are limited to the outdoors for team practices with masks required.
• Visits at long-term care facilities can only happen outside, with exceptions possible for “essential support person and end-of-life care.”

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