Ever since COVID-19 reached U.S. shores, Seattle in particular has seemed to be the epicenter of the crisis here, with the first reported deaths in the country and a rising number of cases. It has affected daily life in a major way, especially since Washington Gov. Jay Inslee mandated that all bars and restaurants in the state must close their dining rooms for at least two weeks. Here, diners can find the most up-to-date news and analysis regarding how the novel coronavirus is affecting the food world. (For guidelines on how to stop the spread of the coronavirus, check out the CDC website and the official King County Public Health website.)
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June 26, 2020
City’s New Legislation Looks to Help Seattle Restaurants Expand Outdoor Seating
The new rules make sidewalk permits free for restaurants and shortens the time for approval; full outdoor plazas could also be coming in July
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June 23, 2020
What Washington’s New Mandatory Face Mask Rule Means for Seattle Restaurants
Diners must wear face coverings indoors, except when actively eating and drinking, and wear them outside if they can’t maintain social distancing
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June 23, 2020
A Majority of Survey Respondents Say They’re Not Ready to Eat Inside Seattle Restaurants Yet
According to Eater Seattle’s recent COVID-19-related dining out survey, most people have expressed caution
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June 18, 2020
Where Seattle Pop-ups Stand as Dining Rooms Begin to Reopen
Several are still sticking with takeout, or serving the community
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June 16, 2020
Seattle City Council Passes Bill That Secures Hazard Pay for Food Delivery App Drivers
Gig workers in Seattle delivering for apps like Grubhub and Doordash will get an extra $2.50 per order during the COVID-19 pandemic
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June 15, 2020
Eastlake Restaurant Sets Up Two-Person Greenhouse-Like Tents on Its Patio
They are intended to promote social distancing
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June 10, 2020
What the Return of Dining Rooms in Seattle Looks Like So Far
Hours-long waits outside breweries, masked servers, and some false starts
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June 5, 2020
Seattle Restaurants Can Officially Reopen Dining Rooms and Outdoor Seating at a Limited Capacity
King County has moved into what Gov. Jay Inslee called "phase 1.5"
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June 5, 2020
Restaurant Proposes Capitol Hill Street Plaza in Anticipation of Outdoor Dining Reopening
Mamnoon is leading the charge for a Melrose Ave plaza, as the city considers expanding outdoor seating during the COVID-19 pandemic
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May 29, 2020
Seattle Restaurants May Reopen Outdoor Seating at Half Capacity Soon
King County plans to apply for an exception to phase one guidelines as Gov. Jay Inslee announced a transition from the stay-at-home order
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May 28, 2020
Gov. Jay Inslee Announces New COVID-19 Measures to Address Farmworker Safety
This comes after workers at Yakima applepacking houses went on strike to protest unsafe conditions
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May 28, 2020
Restaurants in Seattle-Adjacent Kitsap County Can Now Resume Dine-in Service
Snohomish County is also applying for a variance to Washington’s stay-at-home order
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May 26, 2020
Restaurants on the San Juan Islands Can Now Reopen Dining Rooms
But that doesn’t mean they will
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May 26, 2020
Port Orchard Diner Reopened for Dine-in Service Briefly in Defiance of State’s Rules
That One Place says it was a ‘peaceful’ protest
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May 25, 2020
A Running List of Seattle Restaurants Expanding Delivery and Takeout Due to Coronavirus Measures
A neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown of which places are making adjustments
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May 18, 2020
The Future of Intimate Seattle Chef’s Counters Is in Doubt
Some of the best restaurants in the city won’t be able to offer the experience they’re most known for with COVID-19 restrictions
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May 16, 2020
Revision to Washington’s Restaurant Reopening Rules: Logging Diner Info Is Now Optional
Gov. Jay Inslee said Friday that taking down emails and phone numbers for contact tracing would be done on a voluntary basis
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May 13, 2020
Better to Stay Closed Than Offer Takeout? Belltown Bar Does the Math
Some Random Bar opens up its books for an economic lesson during the COVID-19 pandemic
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May 13, 2020
Seattle Chefs on New Restaurant Rules for Reopening: ‘It Will Never Feel Safe Enough Until We Have a Vaccine’
Measures such as logging customer info and social distancing for dine-in service won’t be easy to implement
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May 12, 2020
Washington Gives Restaurants Set of Reopening Requirements [UPDATED]
The plan, which now includes voluntary logs, is meant to facilitate contact tracing
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May 11, 2020
King County Issues Directive to Wear Face Masks at Restaurants, Grocery Stores, and Other Public Settings
The new directive isn’t law — but restaurants can still turn diners away for not complying
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May 11, 2020
Popular Comfort Food Specialist Biscuit Bitch Closes Two Out of Four Locations Permanently
White Center and Pioneer Square will be shuttered, while the Belltown outposts will remain
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May 8, 2020
Nearly All Bartenders in Washington State Lost Their Jobs, According to Unemployment Analysis
About 100 percent of those employed as bartenders filed for unemployment over the past two months
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May 7, 2020
Amazon Has Quietly Started a Free Delivery Service for Restaurants Housed In Its Buildings
Drivers who used to shuttle corporate employees around are part of the program
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May 6, 2020
Washington Rules: Restaurants Can Now Sell To-Go Cocktails During Stay-at-Home Order
The state’s liquor and cannabis board makes the long-anticipated temporary law change