The Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce recently released some information on business reopenings to full strength after 1 1/2 years of COVID-19 restrictions.

It’s newsletter says that local businesses adapted and socially distanced, added new eCommerce efforts, curbside pickup and delivery options, put up sneezeguards, and bought and used all types of cleaning products. To support other local businesses they bought gift cards and ordered lots of take-out, along with following all the ever-changing COVID rules.

One lingering issue, the newsletter states, is not enough workers. Many are still enjoying extended unemployment benefits. The Washington Hospitality Association estimates that the industry needs about 80,000 more workers right now. So even though they could be serving at full capacity some don’t have enough employees to.

Some of the new rules include:

• Restaurant, bars, movie theaters and most other businesses can resume pre-COVID operations without restrictions at 100% capacity unless they choose to require their own stronger rules.
• Fully vaccinated people are no longer required to wear facial coverings, with a few exceptions, such as hospitals, schools, homeless shelters, nursing homes, etc.
• People who are not vaccinated are still required to wear masks in public places, but business owners retain the right to require customers to wear masks and maintain distance.
• The state is still requiring students and school staff to wear masks this summer.
• Travelers need to follow the latest guidance from the CDC, which depends on whether you are vaccinated or not. Either way, wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is still required on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
• Some activities may require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. The state recommends but does not mandate these for large outdoor and indoor events. Only the largest indoor events (those with 10,000 plus simultaneous participants) are restricted to 75 percent capacity unless proof of vaccination is required and provided.