Seattle Restaurants Can Officially Reopen Dining Rooms and Outdoor Seating at a Limited Capacity

On Friday, King County received approval to reopen more business activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. In what Gov. Jay Inslee called “phase 1.5” of Washington’s gradual reopening plan, Seattle can now resume dine-in services indoors at 25 percent capacity and have outdoor seating at 50 percent capacity. The county had applied to a variance for the state’s four-phased reopening plan Wednesday.

According to the new guidelines, all tables and chairs both indoors and outdoors must be separated by six feet of distance, though additional seating will be allowed provided it follows best practices from the King County public health department.

If certain establishments want to add additional outdoor seating, they need to seek approval for that through the city. Several proposals for outdoor plazas are currently waiting to move forward, including one on Capitol Hill and one in Ballard.

Restaurants — along with bars, breweries, and wineries that serve food — must also adhere to other safety guidelines laid out by the state in the phase two reopening (even though they’re not quite there yet). The only substantial difference between phase 1.5 and phase two for restaurants is in capacity size.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/seattle-restaurants-can-officially-reopen-dining-rooms-and-outdoor-seating-at-a-limited-capacity/ar-BB1562Bk?ocid=hplocalnews