UPDATE: New limits on venues and events starting tomorrow

Venues, clubs, theaters, and more must cease operations by new King County Health Order.  Governor will sign a similar statewide proclamation tomorrow, Mar 16.

With the COVID-19 crisis continuing to escalate, additional new restrictions are needed to better contain the spread of the virus.  As of tonight, King County Executive Dow Constantine has announced a new order that updates the restrictions on gatherings, events and venues in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Tomorrow, similar prohibitions will be enacted by proclamation of Governor Jay Inslee throughout Washington State. A press conference is announced for 10:30AM on Monday, available to be viewed here.

According to the press release issued by Dow Constantine, the following restrictions were introduced after coordination with state health officials:

• Full prohibition on gatherings of 50 or more participants
• Continued limits on gatherings of less than 50 participants to events that comply with previously announced hygiene and social distancing criteria.
• Requirement to cease operations for restaurants, bars, dance halls, clubs, theaters, health and fitness clubs, and other similar indoor social or recreational venues through March 31, 2020.
• Exceptions are made that allow restaurants and food service establishments to remain open only for drive-through, delivery and pickup only.
• All other retail, such as groceries, pharmacies, banks, gas stations, hardware stores, shopping centers, etc may remain open so long as they meet the existing public health directives.

While these measures will be very hard for our cultural and creative businesses and professionals, they are needed to limit the spread of the virus.  More info and further detail is on the way.  We are all in this together.

Here’s the announcement from King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Here is the press release from Washington State Governor Jay Inslee.