Seattle, WA|News|
Inslee To End All COVID Emergency Orders By Late October
All remaining emergency orders related to COVID-19 will end late next month, along with vaccination requirements for certain workers.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Washington: Finding Our Way Forward
The coronavirus shutdown brought civic life and commerce to a standstill for months. These stories of revival show how communities, businesses, schools and essential institutions in Washington are finding ways to reopen, recover and move forward.
Related:Finding Our Way Forward
Seattle, WA|News|
COVID Levels Rise To 'Yellow' In King County: What To Know
With case counts about four times higher than they were six weeks ago, King County's COVID-19 levels have reached the CDC's "medium" tier.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
COVID Vaccines Will Not Be Required For K-12 Students: WA Health Board
The state Board of Health voted unanimously Wednesday against mandating COVID-19 vaccines for K-12 students in the fall.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
COVID Rising Again In King County: Here's What To Know
King County health leaders see early signs of another potential COVID-19 surge, with new cases trending steadily upward since mid-March.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
As BA.2 Becomes Dominant, WA COVID Metrics Remain Low
Though some counties are starting to see case counts tick up, statewide trends have kept up a slow decline. Here are a few things to know.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
As Mask Mandates End, King County Begins A New Pandemic Chapter
King County's top health official shared some "relatively optimistic" news Friday, two years after COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
WA's Free COVID Test Program Expands To Allow Monthly Orders
All Washington households are now eligible to order up to 10 free COVID-19 antigen tests per month directly from the state.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
Vaccine Verification Rules End Tuesday In King County
The rule requiring patrons to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test for many indoor activities ends March 1.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
Washington's Indoor Mask Mandate Ends March 21: Inslee
Statewide masking requirements for schools and indoor public spaces will be lifted in a little over a month, the governor said Thursday.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
Inslee Mask Announcement Expected Thursday
The governor is scheduled to hold a news conference Thursday and may reveal an end date for the statewide indoor mask rule.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
Vaccine Verification Rules End Next Month In King County
Starting next month, King County businesses and restaurants will no longer be required to check their customers' vaccine status.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
King County Vaccine Verification Announcement Planned Wednesday
King County officials are scheduled to announce changes to vaccine verification rules for restaurants and other venues Wednesday afternoon.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
King County's Omicron Surge Improves, Amid An Uncertain Future
King County's COVID-19 metrics are down significantly from last month, but cases and hospitalizations remain much higher than pre-omicron.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
Inslee Sends National Guard To Help Hospitals, Testing Sites
The Washington National Guard will deploy to help staff hospitals and testing sites amid a record-breaking surge in omicron infections.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
Omicron Spread Hits 'Mind-Boggling' Pace In King County
While health officials are hopeful the peak may be near, the strain on the region's health care system is likely to continue for weeks.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
Omicron Propels Record Surge In King County COVID Cases
King County is averaging almost 1,600 new COVID-19 cases each day after logging nearly 7,800 infections since Dec. 23.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
New King County Omicron Cases Suggest Another Surge Ahead
"We do need to expect, and I think everyone should be prepared for, eventually many of us being infected," Dr. Jeff Duchin said Wednesday.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
King County's 1st Omicron Case Is Mild, Health Officials Say
Officials said King County's first confirmed case of the omicron variant caused minor symptoms, but the patient likely caught it locally.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
King County's Delta Surge Is On The Decline
Though transmission remains high, the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital is down 40% from last month, and case counts are falling.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
WA Hospitalization Rates Decline, But COVID Metrics Remain High
Active COVID-19 hospitalizations have fallen by 227 patients since last Monday. However, the state is still averaging 30 deaths per day.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
King County Expands COVID Vaccine Sites To Meet Booster Demand
King County is reopening or expanding 17 vaccination sites to help provide a third Pfizer shot to eligible patients.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
COVID More Prevalent Than Ever, Death Rates Rising In WA: Report
Washington's latest situation report estimates that 1 in every 106 residents had an active COVID-19 infection in early September.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
King County Secures Vaccine Mandate Deal With Employee Unions
As part of the deal, county employees who remain unvaccinated by the Oct. 18 deadline can avoid firing if they agree to begin the process.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
WA Hospitalization Rates Steady, But 'Things Are Still Very Bad'
The number of active COVID hospitalizations remained steady over the last week, but Washington's health care system remains near its limits.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
Mask Mandate For Outdoor Events Begins Next Week In King County
Starting Sept. 7, masking will be mandatory at outdoor events with 500 or more attendees, regardless of vaccination status.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
WA COVID Death Tolls Rise As Hospitalization Surge Grows
Health care providers had hoped COVID-19 hospitalizations had peaked, but instead hundreds more have checked in, and death tolls are rising.
Charles Woodman, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
COVID Plateaus In King County, But Hospitalizations Remain High
While King County's case counts appear to have leveled off, hospitals remain full, and what exactly lies ahead is uncertain.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
WA COVID Counts, Hospitalization Rates Remain At Record Highs
State health officials said there are early signs of some flattening in the case counts, but it is too soon to know if the trend will hold.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
King County Reaches New Vaccination Milestone
King County is one of the most vaccinated places in the United States, having reached a key threshold across every eligible age group.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
Statewide Indoor Mask Order Returns Monday In Washington
An indoor masking requirement takes effect across Washington on Monday, amid a steep rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
Delta Surge Shows No Signs Of Slowing Down In Washington
By the first week of August, state health officials estimate one in 156 Washingtonians had an active COVID-19 infection.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
WA COVID Hospitalizations Reach Highest Point In The Pandemic
More people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Washington than ever before, surpassing all previous peaks.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Lakewood-JBLM, WA|News|
Vaccines Required At Washington Schools, Mask Mandate Reinstated
Gov. Jay Inslee has announced a vaccine order for K-12 teachers and staff, and the surprise return of the statewide mask mandate.
Charles Woodman, Patch Staff
Bonney Lake-Sumner, WA|News|
Multi-County COVID-19 Outbreak Linked To Gorge Music Festival
Health officials are asking everyone who attended the Watershed Music Festival at the gorge two weeks ago to seek testing.
Charles Woodman, Patch Staff
Lakewood-JBLM, WA|News|
WA Announces Vaccine Order For State Employees, Health Workers
Gov. Inslee has announced an order requiring that doctors and state employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Here's what to know.
Charles Woodman, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
Delta Fuels Another 48% Increase In King County COVID Cases
Case counts continued to increase in King County over the last week as hospitalization rates trended upward. Here are a few things to know.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Lakewood-JBLM, WA|News|
Washington Vaccine And Mask Mandates: See Who's Requiring Them
As the delta variant spreads through the U.S., many companies are issuing new requirements for staff and customers.
Charles Woodman, Patch Staff
Seattle, WA|News|
COVID Cases Rise 63% In King County, But Hospitalizations Stable
While a delta-driven surge continues in King County, hospitalization rates are stable and no new deaths were reported in the last week.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff
Lakewood-JBLM, WA|News|
Masks Now Required at Joint Base Lewis-McChord
The directive applies to all service members, federal personnel, contractors, and visitors, whether they're vaccinated or not.
Charles Woodman, Patch Staff
Lakewood-JBLM, WA|News|
All Washingtonians Should Mask Up Again, Inslee Recommends
The governor did stress, however, that the recommendation is not a legally-required mandate.
Charles Woodman, Patch Staff
