More to Read: FAQ on Seattle’s Reopening Status // FAQ on Seattle Street Safety
Updated: Thursday, July 1, 2021
Is Seattle Open?
YES! Thanks to flattening COVID-19 cases and increased vaccination rates, Washington state businesses were permitted to reopen at full capacity as of June 30. Seattle, the first major American city to fully vaccinate 70% of residents 12 and older, is safely welcoming back visitors.
The following businesses are able to welcome visitors at 100% capacity:
- Indoor spaces like retail stores, restaurants, hotels and bars.
- Indoor entertainment establishments like aquariums, movie theaters, concert halls and museums that hold less than 10,000 attendees.
- Outdoor entertainment establishments like zoos, stadiums and outdoor event spaces.
As Seattle reopens, we encourage visitors and locals to be aware that all sectors of the hospitality industry are experiencing staffing shortages, and kindly ask for understanding and patience with businesses and staff.
Inbound Travel
Washingtonians and others who may be visiting Washington from outside the state are expected to comply with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) current COVID-19 travel advisory guidance. This guidance recommends travelers delay travel until they are fully vaccinated, at which point they can travel safely within the United States.
If not vaccinated, travelers are expected to follow CDC’s recommendations for unvaccinated people, which includes testing before and after travel, wearing a mask, continuing to socially distance and maintain good hand hygiene.
Detailed guidance for domestic and international travelers is available on the CDC website.
Are masks required in Seattle for fully vaccinated individuals?
Seattle and King County are now following Washington state’s mask guidance, which currently says that fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a mask in most situations, especially outdoors. There is still a statewide mask order in place for unvaccinated people ages 2 and older.
All people, regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks in some settings:
- Public transportation and in transportation hubs including airports, bus or ferry terminals, and trains.
- Child care facilities, camps, K-12 schools or other child-focused settings when children are present or expected to be present.
- Health care settings like hospitals, long-term care, or doctors’ offices; correctional facilities and homeless shelters.
- Businesses and local governments can set more protective mask requirements, even though some state restrictions have been lifted. That’s why we say respect the rules of the room you’re in — the rules may change depending on where you are.
- Masking requirements may be different for your place of work than for the general public, depending on the type of work you do. Masking guidance for employers is available on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries website.
Please note: Businesses have the right to set their own rules and regulations on face coverings. We kindly ask visitors to determine and adhere to the individual guidelines of each business in Seattle and King County.
Review full details of the Washington Ready plan
Learn more details of Washington State Coronavirus Response
Travelers are encouraged to follow guidance issued by official public health sources. Please reference the linked sites to view dashboards on the current status of COVID-19 in Washington State and King County.