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WA reopened, but staffing shortage limits capacity for some businesses

Washington State is fully reopened – meaning businesses can return to normal capacity and operations for the first time since March of 2020. The state’s reopening kicked off a celebration in Tacoma on Wednesday.

“This has been an incredibly stressful time. We deserve to celebrate for just a moment to sit back, eat, and relax,” said Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards.

But some businesses say trouble hiring enough staff is holding them back from operating at 100 percent capacity.

Restaurants say business is already way up, but staff has been a limiting factor.

“Oh, it’s been ridiculously busy,” said Debbie Brese, owner of The Cloverleaf, a pizzeria and bar. “I don’t have full staff. We’re running a little short with staff so that makes it challenging,” she said.

Brese said they’re hiring two servers, a busser, and a delivery driver.

“Hopefully when everyone is listening to this – they’ll come down and apply to work at the best place in Tacoma,” she said with a laugh.

Brese said thankfully, they have loyal customers who have supported the shop throughout the pandemic, and they never had to worry about closing. But she says there are also other reasons to hold back on celebrating.

“I feel like a yo-yo. And I don’t feel confident, I don’t feel secure in the fact we’re going back (to normal) because it’s happened to us before where you go forward, then you get to go back,” Brese said.

She said there are also supply chain issues for things like pizza boxes, or even zucchini, that have made running a restaurant even more difficult.

“Be patient with us, be understanding. Don’t assume everything is normal,” Brese said. “There’s a lot going on in the background.”

Another concern that health leaders are focusing on is vaccination rates – especially with the COVID Delta variant circulating.

While the state is at about 69 percent vaccinated, many areas are lower – including Tacoma.

“When you look at Tacoma only being a little over 50 percent, I’m absolutely concerned,” said Mayor Woodards.

Governor Jay Inslee acknowledged other areas have even lower vaccination rates, with some counties as low as 30 percent.

“We can’t allow a situation where these bombs go off in these unvaccinated counties. These counties have a target on their back,” Inslee said.

“I want to remind everybody, if we want to continue moving in this direction – get vaccinated!” Woodards said.