Downtown Seattle at sunset looking north. Photo Credit: SDOT Flickr. This New Year’s Eve will be very different than in years past – obviously! Even the Space Needle fireworks are going virtual. Still, the beginning of a new year might call for more celebrating than you might do on a typical Thursday. With that in mind, we urge you to not only follow the usual New Year’s Eve safety guidelines, but to remember that following COVID-19 precautions helps keep us all safe and healthy.
The most important messages we can share today: Follow the COVID-19 public health guidelines to slow the spread of the virus, and if you do leave your home, drive sober.
If you’re going to drink or get high, don’t get in the driver’s seat of a car, motorcycle, or any vehicle. Make a plan to use transit, grab a cab or ride share, find a designated driver, or – the safest option for many reasons – stay home and stay healthy. If you are commuting with other people outside your household – whether using transit, a cab, or ride share – please wear a mask and stay as physically distant from others as you can.
Statewide temporary restrictions are still in effect statewide until January 11, 2021:
- Indoor social gatherings with people who do not live with you are prohibited, unless you quarantine for 14 days prior OR quarantine for 7 days and receive a negative COVID test result.
- Outdoor gatherings are limited to no more than 5 people who do not live with you.
Always in style: Our tips for staying safe and watching out for each other no matter how you are traveling.
Remember that no matter how people are getting around (whether by car, transit, on foot, wheelchair, or bike) we’re all people. We’re sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, grandparents, friends, and neighbors. Let’s look out for each other and help Seattle reach our Vision Zero goal of ending traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
The safest option – staying home – can be fun, too!
Remember that our Brand New Year (through the end of December) and Stay Healthy Blocks (through February) are still an option to support you and your neighbors to enjoy a safe, physically distanced holiday.
For family-friendly, safe New Year’s Eve activities, check out the local guides on ParentMap and Red Tricycle.
If you are able to do so, you can also consider supporting Seattle restaurants by getting takeout from one in your neighborhood. Over 600 restaurants have our convenient curbside pick-up zones installed near them. If you’d like to search for BIPOC-owned businesses, and businesses owned by women, veterans, LGBTQ, families, and differently-abled people, visit https://intentionalist.com/.