COVID-19 NEWS
Keep up with all the fast-moving novel coronavirus news, particularly as it impacts the Columbia Basin.
Governor asks feds for medical staffing help; Samaritan sees severe challenges
Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake hadn’t heard of any help on Monday.
Health district links more COVID-19 cases to festival
The Grant County Health District announced Tuesday there were 112 more cases of COVID-19 linked to the Watershed Musical Festival July 30-Aug. 1 in George, bringing the total to more than 230.
Wahluke School District students back in class Aug. 30
MATTAWA — After 18 months of remote instruction or part-time classes, Wahluke School District students return to the classroom full-time Aug. 30.
Grant County Health District, board issue plea to residents
The Grant County Health District and Grant County Board of Health on Thursday issued an impassioned plea to residents about the delta variant and “recent COVID-19 surge.”
Health officers urge wearing of masks
SEATTLE (AP) — Health officers throughout Washington have issued a joint statement recommending all residents wear facial coverings in indoor public settings where the vaccination status of other people is unknown.
Inslee orders state, health care workers to get vaccine
SEATTLE — Gov. Jay Inslee is ordering all state government employees and health care workers across Washington to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 18 or risk losing their jobs.
Health district defers on masking guidance
Grant County Health District Officer Alexander Brzezney announced on Thursday the end of most mask mandates, after analyzing county data on COVID-19 incidence rates, according to a press release from the GCHD.
Opening up: Day arrives for end of pandemic-related restrictions imposed on businesses
OLYMPIA — Most of the COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place and modified several times since last spring were to be lifted in Washington state Wednesday at 12:01 a.m., meaning restaurants and bars and oth...
Nine residents die from COVID-19 in Grant County
The Grant County Health District on Tuesday announced nine more people died from COVID-19, bringing the county’s COVID-19 death toll to 134.
Moses Lake receives new recovery funds
MOSES LAKE — When Washington’s Office of Financial Management sent word that Moses Lake must return all documents to receive further coronavirus fiscal recovery funds by June 18, 11 days after correspondence, cit...
Inslee creates ‘bridge’ on eviction moratorium
OLYMPIA — As the state’s eviction moratorium prepares to end on June 30, Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announced a short-term “bridge” to help both renters and...
Grant County Fair to go on without restrictions
The 2021 Grant County Fair will go on without restrictions on crowd size or carnival rides, for the livestock sale or the concert venues. In fact, there will...
Ride of passage: Moses Lake High School sends off 2021 graduating class with parade ceremony
The Moses Lake High School class of 2021 made its way across town from Grant County Fairgrounds Friday afternoon to six locations to celebrate with a graduat...
Inslee: state close to fully opening
Gov. Jay Inslee said Wednesday the state of Washington has a total COVID-19 vaccination rate of 66% and is “close to being able to fully reopen.”
Mobile clinics designed to bring COVID-19 vaccine to patients
MOSES LAKE — Maybe work has been crazy busy, or maybe the clinic giving COVID-19 vaccinations is 45 minutes away.
Another COVID side effect: Many kids head to summer school
With her three teenagers vaccinated against COVID-19, Aja Purnell-Mitchell left it up to them to decide whether to go back to school during summer break. The decision was unanimous: summer school.