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King County Approved to Lift More COVID-19 Restrictions
Washington state’s most populous county was approved by the state Department of Health to enter Phase 2 of Governor Jay Inslee’s Safe Start recovery plan on Friday. That allows many businesses following the state guidelines to operate at double the capacity of the modified Phase 1.
King County Executive Dow Constantine says, “Moving to Phase 2 is another step toward economic recovery for our region, but it must go hand-in-hand with even more careful adherence to precautions from our public health experts. Wearing face coverings, washing hands, and avoiding crowds and unnecessary contact can help make ours a one-way trip back to prosperity, and prevent the need to go back to stay-at-home orders.”
While there are no additional categories of businesses included in moving from modified Phase 1 to Phase 2, the operating capacity has doubled for those able to reopen. For example, restaurants can now operate with 50% of indoor capacity, and retail with 30% capacity.
The Commercial Brokers Association (CBA) indicated brokers must adhere to the “phase” protocols for the county where the property is located, regardless of the location of the broker’s office or home. Although Phase 2 Real Estate COVID-19 Requirements still call for strict social distancing rules and protocols, they do explicitly state that:
– CRE brokers may open their offices in a limited fashion (if their office is located within a Phase 2 county)
– CRE brokers may re-engage with in-person services, similar to residential brokers.
– Three people are allowed on site for permitted in-person commercial real estate activities for both improved and unimproved property, including facilitating inspections, appraisals, buyer “walkthroughs,” and other activities typically required to complete a real estate sale or lease.
– All in-person real estate activities, Phase 1 or 2, require participants to wear cloth face coverings.
– Sign installers may install real estate signs
For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Dennis Kaiser
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