New Coronavirus Restrictions Go Into Effect Across Washington

OLYMPIA, WA — As of 11:59 p.m. Monday night, a new suite of coronavirus restrictions have been implemented across Washington state, limiting customer capacity at stores, and banning social gatherings with people from outside the household, among other changes.

The new restrictions, announced by Gov. Jay Inslee during a rare Sunday news conference, are intended to curb the recent explosion of new coronavirus cases in Washington before they overwhelm the state's medical system.

"I'm announcing a series of measures that will give us reasonable hope that the success we enjoyed last spring can be replicated in reducing the horrific rate of transmission," Inslee said Sunday. "We know these measures can work."

Washington has seen an unprecedented spike in new confirmed coronavirus cases. Sunday's update from the State Department of Health confirmed that Washington had broken the record number of daily cases now for a third day in a row with 2,309 new cases. To help put the number in perspective, before this latest COVID-19 surge, Washington's record high daily case count was 1,058, set on July 6 during the second surge of coronavirus infections this summer.

Other metrics aren't doing much better. As of the latest update to the state's COVID-19 Risk Assessment Dashboard, there have been 162.2 newly diagnosed coronavirus infections per 100,000 Washington residents over the past two weeks. That's more than six times the state's goal of fewer than 25 diagnoses. The same update shows that 62 percent of the state's hospital beds are currently occupied, a percentage that is likely to rise as spikes in hospitalizations typically lag behind spikes in new infections by a few weeks. That's why Dr. Kathy Lofy, the state health officer, says the state has to act immediately to prevent hospitals from overflowing.

"Flattening the curve is essential to saving lives and ensuring our hospitals don't become overwhelmed with COVID cases like we're seeing in many hospitals in the Midwest and elsewhere in the county," Lofy said. "If we act now, we can be successful."

Here are the new restrictions in place as of 11:59 p.m. Monday, Nov 16:

• 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.

Only one previously-announced restriction remains to be implemented: the ban on indoor dining at bars and restaurants. That restriction begins at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, after which restaurants can only serve patrons outdoors, and table sizes are limited to five members or fewer.

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