As Washington Enters Fourth COVID Wave, Seattle Mayor Warns Backslide to Phase 2 Is Imminent

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Seattle Mayor Warns Backslide to Phase 2 Is Imminent

On Thursday, April 22, Gov. Jay Inslee warned that the entire state of Washington was entering a fourth COVID wave, with cases and hospitalizations steadily ticking upwards in recent weeks. Three counties have already moved backwards in the “Stay Healthy” reopening plan as a result of rising COVID numbers (due to more contagious variants), and now it looks like King County is trending in that direction as well. Currently, the county’s cases are hovering around 209-210 per 100,000 people, which is above what the state designated as the threshold for staying in phase 3, with restaurants open at 50 percent. Hospitalizations are at 4.7 per 100,000 people, which is below the limit set by the state. If the latter number rises, while cases continue to stay above 200/100K, then King County will need to go back to phase 2 and reduce restaurant capacity by 25 percent. “We look at these metrics really carefully, we think it’s very likely that we will go past that threshold in the coming weeks,” Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan told KING 5. State health officials will assess the data May 3 to make decisions on which counties will need to roll back a phase.

Popular Pizza Pop-up Dantini Establishes More Fixed Location in Interbay

After building a following in 2020 as a roving pop-up, popular pizza purveyor Dantini recently announced on Instagram it has set down more permanent roots at Interbay’s Batch 206 distillery. Known for its fermented 16-inch pies topped with locally-sourced ingredients such as rainbow chard, the pie shop plans to increase its output thanks to a new pizza oven and mixer (diners can now either order online or call the day of 206-420-9912). There will also be slices available, along with private dinners in the back distillery room, featuring pizza toppings not available on the regular menu. Soon, Dantini will offer dine-in service, with drinks supplied by Batch’s selection of potent cocktails. The pizza place is open Thursdays and Fridays from 4pm to 8 p.m., and 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.

Iconic Four Seas Sign Taken Down in the International District

Construction crews recently razed the site formerly occupied by the International District’s beloved Four Seas Restaurant and Dynasty Room, taking down the iconic sign that stood for decades. But it isn’t going away forever. Per Vanishing Seattle, half of the sign will take up residence at Uncle Bob’s Place, the forthcoming nonprofit and affordable housing complex that will take over the location in 2022, and the other part will move over to Chinese restaurant Tai Tung, another neighborhood stalwart. Uncle Bob’s Place — named after late community activist Bob Santos — will also house the revival of longtime karaoke bar Bush Garden, which officially vacated its original location earlier this year. There was a virtual groundbreaking for the building in February.