King County’s small restaurants start vaccine checks; here are the new rules

All restaurants and bars in King County are expected to verify the vaccination status of their dine-in customers, after new health department regulations went into effect on Monday.

Most restaurants and bars in King County have already had to verify their dine-in customers’ (ages 12 and up) vaccination status. That requirement went into effect on Oct. 25.

But the smallest establishments were given more time to implement their vaccine checks.

Restaurants with 12 or fewer seats had until Dec. 6 to begin checking vaccination statuses.

The order is expected to last until April 25, according to Public Health – Seattle & King County, but will be reviewed for possible extensions depending on outbreak conditions.

Full vaccination is required to eat in restaurants in King County, and to go to gyms, theaters, live music or other indoor entertainment sites. Vaccination is also required for outdoor events with more than 500 people.

For the unvaccinated, a negative coronavirus test, taken within 72 hours, can be used for entry into events and establishments.

Full vaccination means at least two weeks have passed since a person’s second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or since their first dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.