As Covid infection levels continue to decline and the state mask mandate eliminated on March 12, the state’s largest city and county are reopening their offices to all employees. Both governments currently have about one-third of their employees working remotely.

Seattle City employees are returning to their offices on Wednesday, March 16. King County is taking a different approach; each department head will develop a return plan for employees. The Seattle City Council and the King County Council are still operating remotely as they develop their return-to-the-office plans.

On April 4, Seattle will lift its indoor mask mandate for employees and the public. The city will maintain former Mayor Durkan’s requirement that all city employees be fully vaccinated. The vaccine mandate led 111 employees to leave city employment.

King County eliminated its mask mandate on March 12. Still, the mask mandate will continue to require masks on most health care and long-term care facilities, correctional facilities, and public transportation (federal law requirement).