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…
Othello School District announces reopening plan for 2021-22
OTHELLO — Summer school for Othello School District elementary students will be revised, more tutoring will be offered to students in the 2021-22 school year, …
Charges filed in Inslee recall effort
PASCO — A group seeking to recall Gov. Jay Inslee has filed a petition with the Secretary of State’s office accusing the governor of violating state law and his oath of office in his response to the COVID-19 pandem…
Group expected to file an effort to recall Inslee
OLYMPIA — A group seeking to recall Gov. Jay Inslee was expected to file paperwork with Washington Secretary of State late Monday accusing Inslee of “lawless c…
Expert calls for a new probe of COVID-19’s origins
SEATTLE — A computational biologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is leading a renewed push for a thorough investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden boosting world vaccine sharing commitment to 80M doses
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Monday that the U.S. will share an additional 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines with the world in the coming six weeks as domestic demand for shots drops and global di…
CDC director says mask turnaround based solely on science
The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday defended the decision to ease mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people, stressing that increasing political pressure had nothing to do w…
Virus testing strategies, opinions vary widely in US schools
MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Children are having their noses swabbed or saliva sampled at school to test for the coronavirus in cities such as Baltimore, New York and Chicago. In other parts of the U.S., school districts a…
Fauci says pandemic exposed 'undeniable effects of racism'
ATLANTA (AP) — The immunologist who leads the COVID-19 response in the United States said Sunday that "the undeniable effects of racism" have led to unacceptable health disparities that especially hurt African Amer…
Inslee sets June 30 for reopening state
MOSES LAKE — Reaction was varied among local officials to the announcement by Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday setting June 30 as the date to reopen the state from the shutdown imposed to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
Washington schools to open full time in fall, masks required
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington authorities said Thursday all schools in the state must provide full-time, in-person education for students for the 2021-22 school year and that students and staff will still be req…
UK set to rediscover freedom after vaccination success
LONDON (AP) — When London's Science Museum reopens next week, it will have some new artifacts: empty vaccine vials, testing kits and other items collected during the pandemic, to be featured in a new COVID-19 exhib…
State wants school plans without social distancing
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Health is asking school districts across the state to craft COVID-19 response plans for the 2021-22 school year starting this fall that include full-time, in-class instr…
Nurses, nonprofits, others take vaccine to homebound people
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — For months, Victoria McAllister searched online to make a vaccination appointment. Unlike other people who can hop into a car, though, she has ruptured discs that could slice her spinal cord if…
Wealthy nations once lauded as successes lag in vaccinations
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Some wealthy nations that were most praised last year for controlling the coronavirus are now lagging far behind in getting their people vaccinated — and some, especially in Asia, are…
Washington not yet weighing school COVID vaccine mandate
SEATTLE (AP) — Authorities say schools in Washington state won't consider a requirement to mandate COVID-19 vaccines in schoolchildren until a vaccine is fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.