SEATTLE — Seattle businesses are gearing up to enforce a new health order that goes into effect on Oct. 25, requiring customers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test to dine indoors, visit a gym or movie theater, or attend indoor performances and large outdoor events.
The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce is offering guidance to business owners about how to handle the new mandate, including how to resolve conflicts with unvaccinated customers.
The Vaccine Verification Order Toolkit covers a range of potential issues, including knowing the rules, what qualifies as proof of vaccination and testing, signage to display, how employees should interact with customers, seating scenarios and when the most appropriate time to ask for verification is.
The Chamber of Commerce is also hosting a live webinar to talk business owners through the upcoming changes.
The requirement from Public Health – Seattle & King County is expected to be in place for six months and then reviewed to see if it will be extended, depending on the state of the pandemic next year.
Affected businesses include most restaurants and bars, gyms and large outdoor events with more than 500 people.
The guidance also helps instruct employees to not discriminate and how to handle claims of exemption and allows businesses to offer rapid COVID-19 tests on site.
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