COVID-19 NEWS
Keep up with all the fast-moving novel coronavirus news, particularly as it impacts the Columbia Basin.
COVID-19 update
RITZVILLE — Adams County Health Department administrators have reported another death related to COVID-19, raising…
Newhouse tests positive for COVID-19
U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, a Republican who represents Central Washington, announced Wednesday that he had tested positive for COVID-19 a day earlier, becoming the eighth lawmaker to test positive since Congress retur…
Pfizer plans filing as its COVID-19 vaccine proves 95% effective
Pfizer Inc. said a final analysis of clinical trial data showed its COVID-19 vaccine was 95% effective, paving the way for the company to apply this week for the first U.S. regulatory authorization for a coronaviru…
More details emerge on Sage Point closure
It took five people coming down with COVID-19 to send all 470 students at Sage Point Elementary School home for two weeks.
"We're scared": Health officials ask residents to stay home this Thanksgiving
Health officials in Grant and Adams counties are seeing potentially the largest rise in coronavirus cases since August and are urging local residents to stay home this Thanksgiving, cautioning that indoor gathering…
Ritzville wedding superspreader linked to secondary outbreaks
The impact of a Ritzville-area wedding nearly two weeks ago continues to grow as officials get a better understanding of how many people have become infected.
Overwhelmed Grant County health officials cannot keep up contact tracing
Overwhelmed by a surge of coronavirus cases, the Grant County Health District cannot perform contact tracing and asks people infected with the coronavirus to s…
Health district seeks Ritzville wedding attendees
Grant County Health District is asking anyone who attended a large private wedding near Ritzville last week to get tested for COVID-19 after a number of cases of the pandemic illness have been linked to the event.
Patton Clinic celebrates anniversary with free flu shots
The Samaritan Clinic on Patton Boulevard marked its first anniversary, last Wednesday, with a free flu shot event Friday afternoon.
Local police agencies suspend fingerprinting, pistol licenses as COVID-19 cases rise
With COVID-19 cases on the rise, law enforcement agencies across the Columbia Basin are suspending some operations.
Moses Lake museum closed until Dec. 15
The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center and Visitor Information Center closed Monday and won’t reopen until Dec. 15 in compliance with Governor Inslee's shut down order, according to a press release.
Moses Lake decides against increasing health district contributions
Moses Lake will not be allocating additional tax dollars to the Grant County Health District, council members decided at last Tuesday’s council meeting.
MLSD closes Sage Point Elementary to in-class instruction
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District announced late Monday that all students at Sage Point Elementary would start remote learning as of Tuesday, citing the increase in COVID-19 cases and “an increase in abse…
As COVID-19 cases rise, Samaritan Healthcare still has capacity
While coronavirus cases are surging throughout the country, and some hospital systems are becoming overwhelmed, Samaritan Healthcare still has sufficient capac…
Inslee issues restrictions on restaurants, home gatherings
Gov. Jay Inslee announced a series of new restrictions Sunday morning, including closing all restaurants to indoor dining and restrictions on indoor gatherings.
MLSD sends all middle schoolers home for remote learning, citing staffing issues
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District is sending all of its middle school students home and will have them do school remotely for the next two weeks, saying the spread of COVID-19 among faculty and staff has …