The City of Bellevue supports Public Health - Seattle & King County and the state Department of Health in their efforts to limit the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. On May 11, 2023, the federal public health emergency for COVID-19 expired.
After closures or partial closures from March 2020 to April 2022, all city facilities have returned to normal hours. There are no public mask or vaccination requirements here.
COVID-19 remains a risk, especially for older people and people with health issues. If you have questions about vaccination, testing, treatment and/or how to avoid contracting COVID-19, please consult Public Health - Seattle & King County and the state Department of Health.
Local, State and County Orders
- May 11, 2023: The federal public health emergency for COVID-19 expires.
- April 3, 2023: Per a state order, masks are no longer required in healthcare facilities, correctional facilities and on buses, taxis and other public transit.
- Sept. 8, 2022: Gov. Jay Inslee announces the upcoming rescission of all remaining COVID-19 emergency proclamations and state of emergency by Oct. 31, 2022.
- March 30, 2022: The City of Bellevue announces that city facilities will reopen fully as of Monday, April 4.
- Feb. 28, 2022: Per state and county orders, masks will no longer be required in most indoor settings, including city facilities, restaurants, grocery stores, bars, gyms and schools, after March 11. Masks are still required in healthcare facilities and on buses, taxis and other public transit.
- Feb. 16, 2022: With new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations decreasing, and nearly 80% of all King County residents fully vaccinated, the county is ending its local health order requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test for entry into restaurants and bars, indoor recreational events and establishments or outdoor events. Starting on March 1, vaccine verification will no longer be required.
- Sept. 24, 2021: Gov. Inslee announced another extension of the statewide moratorium on evictions. The moratorium, which was set to expire on Thursday, Sept. 30, will now expire Sunday, Oct. 31. The state is still working to distribute rental relief funds to tenants in need.
- Sept. 16, 2021: To protect customers and workers, preserve hospital capacity and help prevent business closures, Public Health - Seattle & King County has issued a health order requiring verification of full vaccination or a negative test to enter outdoor public events of 500 or more people and indoor entertainment and recreational establishments and events such as live music, performing arts, gyms, restaurants and bars. The order takes effect Oct. 25, though implementation will be delayed for smaller restaurants and bars (seating capacity of 12 or less) until Dec. 6.
- Sept. 2, 2021: With the delta variant still surging in King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County issued a health officer order, requiring anyone five years of age and older to wear face masks at any outdoor event with 500 or more people in attendance. The order takes effect Tuesday, Sept. 7.
- Aug. 18, 2021: With the delta variant of COVID-19 surging across the state, particularly among unvaccinated people, Gov. Inslee issued a new statewide mask requirement and ordered all public, private and charter school employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Per the announcement, all individuals in indoor public spaces (including restaurants, grocery stores, malls and public-facing offices) must wear face coverings, regardless of vaccination status, starting Monday, Aug. 23.
- June 29, 2021: Gov. Inslee confirmed that the state's economy will reopen on Wednesday, June 30, as planned, with businesses returning to normal capacity and operations as of 12:01 a.m. On Tuesday, June 29, King County formally lifted its mask mandate, which means fully vaccinated residents are free to go without face coverings outdoors and in most indoor spaces.
- May 13, 2021: With COVID-19 infection rates declining as vaccination rates rise, Gov. Inslee announces that the state is moving toward a statewide June 30 reopening date. He also announced that all counties in Washington will move to Phase 3 of the Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan effective May 18. Effective immediately, additional activities will be allowed with fewer restrictions and increased capacity for groups of fully vaccinated people.
- May 4, 2021: Gov. Inslee announces a two-week pause in the Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan, with every county staying in its current phase. King County remains in Phase 3. The decision reflects recent data suggesting Washington’s fourth wave has hit a plateau. The state’s fourth COVID-19 wave has been less severe than the three previous ones, with rising case counts not leading to a corresponding rise in deaths. Epidemiologists attribute the difference to vaccinations, especially among vulnerable populations. In addition to reducing the number of people who contract COVID-19, vaccinations lessen the severity of the disease for those who do get it.
- April 15, 2021: All Washingtonians over age 16, starting April 15, are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Many sites in King County have vaccine supply available (vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov).
- April 12, 2021: Three counties — Cowlitz, Whitman and Pierce — rolled back to Phase 2 of “Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery,” after failing metrics for COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. For all counties in Phase 3, including King County, retail stores, arenas, entertainment establishments and restaurants were allowed to have up to 50% capacity indoors. Up to 10 people from outside a household could gather indoors; up to 50 could gather outside.
- March 31, 2021: On March 31, the day vaccine eligibility was expanded in Washington to Phase 1B tiers 3 and 4, Gov. Inslee announced that it will expand further, to all Washingtonians over age 16, starting April 15. Details at Bellevue's COVID-19 Vaccines page.
- March 12, 2021: Gov. Inslee Friday announced he will issue an emergency proclamation early next week forcing all of Washington’s school districts to offer K-12 students the choice to return to their classrooms. By April 5, all students in kindergarten through the sixth grade must be given the choice to go back to classrooms, and by April 19, all other K-12 students must have the same option, according to the proclamation. Details
- March 11, 2021: Gov. Inslee announced that the entire state will enter Phase 3 of the Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery. Effective Monday, March 22, in-person spectators will be allowed for professional and high school sports. Spectators will be allowed to attend outdoor venues with permanent seating with capacity capped at 25%. Social distancing and facial covering are still required. Additionally, starting Wednesday, March 17, everyone in Tier 2 will be eligible for their COVID vaccine. This includes workers in agriculture, food processing, grocery stores, public transit, firefighters and law enforcement. Tier 2 also includes people over the age of 16 who are pregnant or have a disability that puts them at high-risk. Details
- March 9, 2021: Adopting guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state Department of Health announced that fully vaccinated people can gather indoors unmasked with: 1) other fully vaccinated people in private residences; 2) unvaccinated people from one other household in private residences, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
- Jan. 28, 2021: Gov. Inslee announced relaxation of some COVID-19 restrictions on businesses in King and seven other counties starting Monday, Feb. 1. Restaurants in those counties can reopen indoor service at 25% capacity through 11 p.m. Indoor fitness centers and live entertainment venues — including museums, bowling alleys and concert halls — can also reopen to 25% capacity. As people and businesses have adhered to distancing restrictions, key indicators of the pandemic have trended downward, and King County meets three of four benchmarks for the loosening of restrictions.
- Jan. 18, 2021: Gov. Inslee announced an updated statewide vaccine distribution plan to increase the number of Washingtonians vaccinated and establish infrastructure capable of mass vaccinations in the coming months. With the expanded distribution system, the state set a goal of vaccinating 45,000 Washingtonians per day.
- Jan. 5, 2021: Gov. Inslee announced “Healthy Washington — Roadmap to Recovery,” a new COVID-19 phased recovery plan beginning Jan. 11. The plan follows a regional recovery approach with every region beginning in Phase 1 and required to meet a combination of metrics before moving to Phase 2.
- Dec. 30, 2020: Gov. Inslee extends the tightened COVID-19 restrictions by another week, now set to expire on Jan. 11, as outlined in the "Stay Safe - Stay Healthy" proclamation.
- Dec. 8, 2020: With coronavirus infections showing no sign of slowing, Gov. Inslee extends the restrictions announced on Nov. 15 to Jan. 4.
- Nov. 15, 2020: Gov. Inslee announced tightened COVID-19 health restrictions as the state hit new daily records of COVID-19 positive cases. The restrictions include occupancy limits on retail businesses, mandatory work from home for employees if possible, limited religious service and family gathering guidelines, and no indoor dining for restaurants and bars. In response, the county offers current COVID-19 guidance.
- Nov. 13, 2020: Due to a spike in cases, Gov. Jay Inslee issued a travel advisory urging individuals arriving from other states or countries to self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival. He also recommended individuals limit their interactions to their immediate household and stay close to home over the holidays.
- June 23, 2020: Gov. Inslee issued a mandate legally requiring people to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces and outdoor ones when social distancing is difficult.
- June 19, 2020: King County was approved to move to Phase 2 of Washington's Safe Start plan.
- June 5, 2020: King County launched a modified Phase 1 (or "1.5") that allowed for partial reopening of some businesses and activities.
- May 31, 2020: Gov. Jay Inslee announced the Stay Home, Stay Healthy would expire May 31 and be replaced with the Safe Start Proclamation, guided by Washington's phased approach to opening.
- May 1, 2020: Extension of "Stay Home" order until May 31, with plan to resume Washington's economy and social life over four phases. In the first phase, which started May 5, some businesses (including retail stores able to offer curbside pickup, car sales and car washes) reopen.
- April 2, 2020: Extension of "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order until May 4.
- March 23, 2020: "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order calls for residents to stay home unless they need to pursue an essential activity, bans gatherings and allows only essential businesses to remain open. Non-essential businesses can operate as long as workers telecommute. The City of Bellevue released a list of questions and answers to help clarify the details of the order for private and public construction projects.
- March 16, 2020: Gov. Inslee closes bars, restaurants and entertainment facilities for in-person events or dining. Take-out or delivery only from restaurants as of March 17. Public Health also reduces the large gathering threshold for cancellation to 50 people. Events with less than 50 people are still allowed only if they comply with the Public Health standards for preventing the spread of illness, including access to hand washing, social distancing, and sanitizer for all participants.
- March 12, 2020: Gov. Inslee orders all public and private K-12 schools in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties to close no later than the end of the day on March 16, and remain closed through April 24. He urged all schools to explore extended learning options through the closure period and maintain critical services such as child care and meals.
- March 11, 2020: Gov. Inslee announces amendments to the state's emergency proclamation that prohibit social, spiritual and recreational activities involving 250 or more people. Public Health also said events with less than 250 people should not go forward unless they can ensure proper health protections for attendees to limit the spread of illness.
- March 10, 2020: Gov. Inslee announces new rules for visitation standards at long-term care facilities in the state.
- March 3, 2020: Mayor Lynne Robinson signs a proclamation of emergency that allows the city to act quickly to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.