On August 9, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a new policy that state workers and contractors working on state property will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18 as a condition of their employment. Limited exemptions for medical reasons and sincerely held religious beliefs will be allowed, but there will be no exemptions or opt-out provisions for philosophical or personal reasons. The order applies to around 60,000 state workers in cabinet-level state agencies, though it does not apply to agencies headed by independent statewide elected officials, higher education, or K-12 schools. The proclamation also requires around 400,000 private sector health care and long-term care workers to be vaccinated.

Inslee encouraged independent agencies, local governments, schools, and other private and public sector employers to impose their own vaccine requirements for their workers. Both the City of Seattle and King County announced that they would also require vaccines as a condition of employment.

You can find the full text of the Governor’s proclamation here.