This is one article in the series on Safe Business Operations from the Health and Safety Handbook. Be sure to check out our other articles and posts from this section:
Event Venues Included in New Statewide Recovery Plan
Yesterday, Governor Inslee announced a new regional phased recovery plan for COVID-19. “Healthy Washington–Roadmap to Recovery” will begin next week on January 11 with all regions beginning in Phase 1. For creative
Current Phase Guidelines
King County began Phase 1 on the “Healthy Washington – Road to Recovery” on January 11, 2020. Continuing to take precautions is crucial to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and allow us to resume normal economic activity.
Roadmap to Recovery for Businesses
This article is an overview on the economic impacts of COVID-19 and the Safe Start Washington program that outlines our reopening process.
7 Data Dashboards
You’ll find here some of the critical data dashboards that are being used for decision-making, including virus activity, economic activity, education, employment, and more.
Event Venues Included in New Statewide Recovery Plan
Yesterday, Governor Inslee announced a new regional phased recovery plan for COVID-19. “Healthy Washington–Roadmap to Recovery” will begin next week on January 11 with all regions beginning in Phase 1. For creative
Current Phase Guidelines
King County began Phase 1 on the “Healthy Washington – Road to Recovery” on January 11, 2020. Continuing to take precautions is crucial to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and allow us to resume normal economic activity.
Roadmap to Recovery for Businesses
This article is an overview on the economic impacts of COVID-19 and the Safe Start Washington program that outlines our reopening process.
Event Venues Included in New Statewide Recovery Plan
Yesterday, Governor Inslee announced a new regional phased recovery plan for COVID-19. “Healthy Washington–Roadmap to Recovery” will begin next week on January 11 with all regions beginning in Phase 1. For creative
Current Phase Guidelines
King County began Phase 1 on the “Healthy Washington – Road to Recovery” on January 11, 2020. Continuing to take precautions is crucial to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and allow us to resume normal economic activity.
Roadmap to Recovery for Businesses
This article is an overview on the economic impacts of COVID-19 and the Safe Start Washington program that outlines our reopening process.
King County & A New Phase One
On Jan. 11, King County entered Phase 1 of the state’s new Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery plan. This new path forward allows us to balance fighting COVID-19 and saving lives with safely reopening the economy and vaccinating as many people as possible.
Phase 1 aligns with restrictions in place with a few key exceptions. Some indoor fitness and outdoor entertainment, for example, are now permitted with restrictions.
COVID activity remains high in King County. It is important that we continue to avoid socializing indoors, limit our gatherings and discretionary activities, wear masks, keep interactions brief and practice social distancing so we can continue to slow the virus’ spread and reopen our region’s economy.
Learn what workplaces, community and faith-based organizations, schools and childcare, and residents in King County need to know, plus important COVID-19 resources for you or your business.
What's Open?
The following is a partial list of The Healthy Washington Road to Recovery guidlines for various activities:
- Social and at-home gathering: indoor is prohibited; outdoor is allowed up to 10 people from outside your household, with a limit of 2 households
- Worship services: allowed up to 25% capacity
- Retail stores (includes farmers’ markets, pharmacies, grocery and convenience stores): Maximum 25% capacity, encourage curbside pickup
- Professional services: indoor maximum 25% capacity
- Eating and drinking establishments: indoor dining prohibited. outdoor dining, 11pm close, max 6 per table, limit 2 households per table
- Weddings and funerals: Ceremonies limited to max 30 people. Indoor receptions, wakes or similar gatherings are prohibited.
- Indoor recreation and fitness establishments: low risk sports (dance, no-contact martial arts, gymnastics, climbing) permitted in stable groups of no more than 5. Appointment-based fitness/training; 45 min max sessions, no more than 1 customer per room or per 500/sq ft for large facilities
- Outdoor sports and fitness establishments: Low and moderate risk sports permitted. Outdoor guided activities, hunting, fishing, motorsports, parks, camping, hiking, biking, running, snow sports permitted
- Indoor entertainment establishments: Private rentals/tours for individual households of no more than 6 people permitted. No general admission.
Looking Ahead to Phases Three and Four
As of November, King County has returned to unchecked growth in the number of cases, delaying any additional stages until at least the beginning of the year and likely longer. However, if we can get the virus under control, we can look forward to moving into Phase 3 then, and even possibly Phase 4 by spring of 2021.
When approved, Phase 3 will allow gatherings up to 50 people, theaters at 50% capacity, openings at libraries and museums, and full opening of other retail and office environments.
Additionally, the state is working on special rules and allowances for performing arts and events, hopefully to be released by the end of the year.
Eventually, Phase 4 will then open gatherings beyond 50 people and for the first time allow the opening of nightclubs, concert venues, large sporting events and festivals.
Until there is a vaccine or other widely available intervention that can slow the spread or cure the dangerous elements of the disease otherwise, social distancing and other precautions are very likely to continue well into 2021 no matter what Phase we are in.
Further Information from King County for Businesses and Workers
King County provides further information resources for businesses working towards reopening and recovery.
- King County’s Small Business Assistance Program for small businesses in unincorporated King County impacted by COVID-19
- Guidance for Businesses and Employers – (CDC)
- Safe Start Plans and Guidance for Reopening – (State of Washington)
- Return to Work Guide for Employers (Business Health Trust)
- Technical assistance for businesses (Business Impact Northwests)
- List of resources for small businesses (Ventures)
- Culturally and linguistically relevant assistance for business owners and organizations affected by COVID-19
And for workers:
The economic disruption unleashed by COVID-19 has posed great challenges for the region’s workers. There are resources to help workers during these difficult times and laws to protect your rights in the workplace.
Learn more:
Toolkit: Materials to print for your business
he following toolkit includes all the materials you need to print for reference and to display, to help reopen and operate your business safely.
Safe Work Plan
Operating Tools
Posters for Customers
Posters for Employees
Click here to download and print the entire toolkit (22.4 MB PDF)
Culturally and linguistically relevant help is available in-language for small businesses and nonprofits looking to find and apply for resources, access translation assistance, plan for recovery and safe re-opening, and more.
English 
Spanish 
Vietnamese 
Russian 
Chinese