Final New Coronavirus Restriction On Restaurants Goes Into Effect

OLYMPIA, WA — The last of Washington's latest batch of coronavirus pandemic restrictions are now in effect.

As of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday morning, indoor dining at bars and restaurants is forbidden across the state. Those businesses can still serve patrons outdoors, though table sizes are limited to five people or fewer, and only people from the same household.

The restriction is part of Gov. Inslee's new measures intended to curb the recent, widespread growth in COVID-19 transmission. The restrictions were first announced Sunday, the same day that Washington broke its record for single-day coronavirus infections for the third day in a row. The bulk of the restrictions were implemented starting at 11:59 p.m. Monday, though the ban on indoor dining was delayed to allow business owners an additional day to prepare.

As the final restriction goes into place, Washington logged yet another record-breaking day for coronavirus transmissions, as the state Department of Health's daily update confirmed more than 2,600 new infections.

Before November, Washington had never logged an excess of 2,000 cases per day. In the past week alone it has happened 4 times now. At the conference announcing the new restrictions Sunday, Dr. Kathy Lofy, the state health officer, said the explosive growth in new cases had to be quelled as quickly as possible, lest the state run out of hospital beds for incoming patients.

"During the past two weeks, the number of cases reported each day in our state has more than doubled, from about 1,000 cases reported per day to about 2,200 cases reported per day," Lofy said. "If that doubling time continues, in two more weeks, we'll be seeing over 4,000 cases per day. Especially concerning is that during the past week, the number of patients currently in our hospitals with COVID-19 increased about 40 percent, from 401 on Nov. 6 to 566 on Nov. 13."

Other restrictions already in place include:

• Indoor social gatherings with people from outside your household are prohibited unless a 14-day quarantine is completed before the event (or a weeklong quarantine with a negative test result received within 48 hours).
• Outdoor social gatherings should be limited to five people from outside your household.
• Fitness facilities and gyms are closed for indoor operations. Outdoor fitness classes may still occur, but they are limited by the outdoor gathering restriction listed above. Drop-off child care closed.
• Bowling centers are closed for indoor service.
• Miscellaneous venues: All retail activities and business meetings are prohibited. Only professional training and testing that cannot be performed remotely is allowed. Occupancy in each meeting room is limited to 25 percent or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
• Movie theaters are closed for indoor service. Drive-in movie theaters are still permitted and must follow the current drive-in movie theater guidance.
• Museums/zoos/aquariums closed for indoor service.
• Real estate open houses are prohibited.
• Wedding and funerals receptions are prohibited. Ceremonies are limited to no more than 30 people.
• In-store retail (including grocery stores) is limited to 25 percent indoor occupancy and must close any common/congregate non-food-related seating areas. Food court indoor seating is closed.
• Religious services are limited to 25 percent indoor occupancy or no more than 200 people, whichever is fewer. No choir, band or ensemble shall perform during the service. Soloists are permitted to perform. Facial coverings must be worn at all times by congregation members, with no congregational singing.
• Professional services are required to mandate that employees work from home when possible, and to close offices to the public. If they remain open, occupancy is restricted to 25 percent.
• Personal services are limited to 25 percent of maximum occupancy.
• Long-term care facilities are limited to outdoor visits only. Exceptions can be made for essential support person and end-of-life care.
• Youth (school and non-school) and adult sporting activities are limited to outdoor only for intrateam practices, masks required for athletes.

Related coverage:

• Inslee Asks Washington To Stay Home For The Holidays
• Travel Advisory Asks Washingtonians To Quarantine Before Leaving
• How To Celebrate Thanksgiving Safely In Washington