Current COVID requirements affecting retail at the federal, state, and local levels
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Federal Level: https://www.whitehouse.gov/covidplan
September 13, 2021: President Biden announced a vaccine mandate requiring ALL employers with 100+ employees in their organization to ensure their workers are vaccinated or tested weekly.
OSHA Rulemaking in progress: https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/safework
Note: Washington state is not subject to OSHA’s rules. L&I is developing emergency rules based on Biden’s mandate independent of OSHA’s ETS development. However, L&I’s rules will be at least equivalent to or may go beyond the OSHA standard.
Deadline for vaccination: No date set yet for private-sector employees as rulemaking is still in progress. All federal employees are required to be vaccinated by November 22, 2021, according to Executive Order 14043.
OSHA’s Federal COVID Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS)
Religious Objections to COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates addressed by U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
State Level: https://coronavirus.wa.gov
Washington Ready Plan as of June 30, 2021
COVID-19 Reopening Guidance for Businesses and Workers as of June 30, 2021
L&I Requirements and Guidance for Preventing COVID as of September 13, 2021
Current Mask Requirements as of September 27, 2021
Current Vaccine Requirements as of September 3, 2021
The proclamation requires all state employees, higher education, childcare, and K-12 education employees, and most health and long-term care providers to be fully vaccinated with a recommended COVID-19 vaccine by October 18, 2021, as a condition of employment. Employers will need to verify vaccination status of all employees. This does not apply to private-sector employers.
Deadline for vaccination was October 18, 2021
FAQs: https://www.governor.wa.gov/VaccineMandateFAQ
L&I’s ‘Which Mask for Which Task?’ guidance as of September 13, 2021
Local Level – King County: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19.aspx
Current guidance: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/current-guidance.aspx
Mask guidance: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/current-guidance/masks.aspx
Vaccine Verification Requirements & FAQs: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/current-guidance/verify.aspx
Proof of vaccination is required in King County for everyone ages 12+ at indoor businesses, restaurants, and bars, effective October 25, 2021.
Current COVID-19 business guidance in King County, and requirements from Seattle & King County Public Health