King County looking to make vaccination against COVID-19 a requirement to enter some businesses

King County is working to develop a vaccination verification program for some non-essential indoor businesses and venues, according to a news release Tuesday from the King County Executive’s office.

The release said more details will be announced once county leaders get feedback from community organizations, labor unions, businesses and cities. The county didn’t provide specifics beyond saying that it’s looking to make proof of vaccination an entry requirement at “non-essential indoor and outdoor spaces where people gather in close proximity for a prolonged period of time.”

“We’re at a critical point in the pandemic. In a County where more than 4 out of 5 eligible residents have taken advantage of the opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID, vaccine verification is the best way for businesses and gatherings to remain open, vibrant, and at full capacity,” County Executive Dow Constantine said in the release. “My staff and Public Health officials are continuing to gather feedback and listen to community and business groups in a county-wide effort to keep our recovery going, keep people safe, and end this pandemic.”

If the plan comes to fruition, unvaccinated residents would have at least five weeks to begin the vaccination process once the program is finalized, the release said. Officials say they'd expect the requirements to take effect some time in October.

The announcement comes at a time when COVID cases are surging statewide, fueled by the highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus. Washington is averaging more than 2,300 new cases a day and hospitalizations have risen 8% over the last two weeks. Those figures are lower than they have been in recent weeks, but are still far higher than they were before the emergence of the Delta variant over the summer.

"We are experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations caused by the highly infectious Delta variant that is causing serious stress on our regional healthcare system,” Dr. Jeff Duchin, King County’s Health Officer, said in the release. “COVID-19 vaccines are safe, highly effective, and readily available, and verifying vaccination in certain non-essential, high-risk settings can make those places safer for the public, workers, and our community, including children who are not currently eligible for vaccination."