Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday that the state’s COVID-19 restrictions will be in place for at least an additional three weeks through Jan. 4.
Inslee originally set the restrictions in mid-November, banning indoor social gatherings and indoor dining across the state. The mandate was in place until Dec. 14.
The extension does not set new rules. As announced last month, residents are prohibited from being inside with people outside of their household, unless they quarantine for 14 days prior to gathering, or seven days if they also receive a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of gathering. Outdoor gatherings should be limited to five people beyond a household.
COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations have been rising in Washington state since September. Inslee said nearly 80% of ICU beds are occupied.
In King County, home to the tech centers of Bellevue, Redmond, and Seattle, the seven-day rolling average of positive cases now tops 800 a day, after dropping to a rolling average of less than 50 cases a day at times in the late spring.
In total, more than 184,000 cases have been confirmed, 11,696 people hospitalized, and 2,941 have died from COVID-19 in Washington state.
Inslee also announced Tuesday that the state will set aside an additional $50 million to help businesses and workers impacted by the pandemic, on top of the $135 million it allocated last month when the restrictions were rolled out.
Needs of #smallbiz right now are profound. Over 16K applications received for current round of Working WA funds. @GovInslee announced an additional $50M for a total of $100M in this grant round. Applications received by Dec. 11 will be prioritized. Apply: https://t.co/VjGaQ8KzGo
— Washington State Department of Commerce (@WAStateCommerce) December 8, 2020
The restrictions are similar to Inslee’s nine-week Stay Home, Stay Healthy order set in April when COVID-19 began spreading across the state and country.
Takeout orders and restricted outdoor dining will be allowed at restaurants, which were previously allowed to operate indoor dining at 50% capacity and with parties of five or less, in addition to social distancing and cleaning mandates.
Inslee set a new mandate on Nov. 25 that capped fees charged to restaurants by delivery companies in the state.
Under the existing restrictions, retail businesses such as grocery stores are limited to 25% capacity indoors, while gyms, indoor movie theaters, and museums must close. Real estate open houses are prohibited. Religious services are limited to 25% occupancy with no more than 200 people.
K-12/higher education, childcare, and court-related proceedings are exempt from the restrictions.
The state has a guide for safer gatherings here.
Last week the state unveiled the WA Notify app, a free smartphone tool sends out warnings if people have been potentially exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19. More than 1.1 million Washington residents have installed or activated the app, Inslee announced Friday.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. The first vaccine was given in the UK this morning.
But our communities are not safe right now – and the vaccine won’t change that in the near future.
Right now – we need to knock this virus back down.
— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) December 8, 2020