Coronavirus – covid-19

Acting State Health Officer Dr. Scott Lindquist gave an update Wednesday on the state's fight against COVID-19 variants. Lindquist said the Alpha variant, also known as the B117 or UK variant, slipped to about 46% of recent cases across the state ...

Grant County Health Officer Alexander Brzezny announced Thursday that he would be ending the county's masking mandate effective immediately. In a press release, the health district says it will now follow the CDC and Washington State Department of Health guidance on masking ...

Washington State 'fully' reopened Wednesday, with social distancing no longer required and masks no longer needed for anyone but those unvaccinated while indoors. Secretary of Health Umair Shah said that over the 15-month fight against COVID-19, the state has seen over 450,000 cases and roughly 5,900 deaths ...

Washington is reopening tomorrow and the State Department of Health says it's important workplaces are prepared if they are just returning. DOH says that fully vaccinated workers do not need to wear a mask or practice physical distancing, but can do so if they choose to ...

Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is expected to sign an emergency order in the coming days that would allow medical professionals to bill insurers for reaching out to their patients proactively with information on the COVID-19 vaccine ...

Washington State Lottery officials say that the second $250,000 prize in the "Shot of a Lifetime" drawing was claimed last week along with 159 of the 251 prizes for the second week. Included in prizes claimed were 15 students who received Guaranteed Education Tuition units equivalent to one year of paid in-state, undergrad college tuition ...

Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center (WVMCC) Executive Director Keni Sturgeon gave the East Wenatchee City Council an update on the museum's progress through the pandemic and its plans for the fall. While in-person attendance was just 6,844 in 2020 because of the shutdown, the museum's online attendance was about 118,000 ...

The Washington State Attorney General's Office announced that the petition to recall Governor Jay Inslee was dismissed Wednesday. Inslee commented on the judge's dismissal during Thursday's press conference. "I think all of us are concerned about efforts that are ongoing to relitigate elections ...

Governor Jay Inslee announced Thursday the Shot of a Lifetime giveaway series as well as several other incentive programs to drive up the state's COVID-19 vaccination numbers. Inslee said that, starting next week, four weekly prizes of $250,000 each will be offered, with a $1 million prize in the 5th week ...

The Chelan-Douglas Health District released its weekly COVID-19 thermographic Wednesday. According to the district, the two county area's case rate rose just slightly over the previous nine days. Cases increased about 7% to 88 per 100,000 people over 14 days ...