COVID-19 coronavirus

Snohomish County leaders propose COVID-related hazard pay for county employees, grocery workers

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers Tuesday proposed ordinances to the Snohomish County Council to provide supplemental pay to front-line, public-facing county employees and certain grocery workers in unincorporated Snohomish County. With the re-opening of businesses later this month, the tightening labor market and the spread of new variants, this supplemental pay will ensure essential government…

From lottery cash drawings to gift cards, Inslee announces vaccination incentives

Gov. Jay Inslee Thursday announced new incentives to help encourage unvaccinated Washingtonians to get the COVID shot. The Washington State Lottery will be conducting a “Shot of a Lifetime” giveaway series during the month of June, working with state agencies, technology companies, sports teams and higher education institutions across the state to offer a myriad…

Sno-Isle Libraries adapting as state’s pandemic safety rules ease

The coronavirus pandemic has brought a year of transition to Sno-Isle Libraries, and June will see more changes as public health rules are expected to ease. Throughout the pandemic, Sno-Isle Libraries staff have been working on ways to bring more services to customers with contact-free delivery options, online programs and events, and the gradual reintroduction…

State Department of Health launches mobile vaccination service

The Washington State Department of Health has launched a new mobile vaccine service called “Care-A-Van” that will deliver vaccines to communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The department said it is working closely to support community partners and local health jurisdictions to increase vaccine access for priority communities, which include: Counties with higher vaccine gaps by…

Sponsor spotlight: Paktia Pharmacy now administering COVID-19 vaccines

Paktia Pharmacy is providing free COVID-19 vaccines to eligible patients in partnership with the U.S. government. Eligible patients can visit https://www.healthmart.com to make an appointment or call Paktia Pharmacy at 425-967-5375 “We are proud to help Edmonds fight COVID-19 and are here to help the most vulnerable and most at risk of suffering from COVID-19,”…

Community Transit offering customers free rides to get vaccination

Community Transit is now offering people free rides on the bus to get their COVID-19 vaccination. The free round-trip does not require customers provide any documents. They can simply state they are traveling to get the vaccine or returning from receiving it. The free ride can be used to travel to mass vaccination sites, a…

County leaders say COVID-19 case rates remain flat, are hopeful to stay in Phase 3

Snohomish County leaders said during a May 11 briefing that due to stable COVID-19 case rates they are hopeful the county will be able to remain in Phase 3 of the Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan when Gov. Jay Inslee’s statewide two-week pause on counties’ phase movement is expected to end next week….

Nearby option for COVID-19 vaccine: Shoreline Center

If you are looking for a nearby option for a COVID-19 vaccine, a reminder from our friends at Shoreline Area News that the UW Medicine North King County Vaccination Clinic in Shoreline provides walk-in vaccinations for Pfizer (age 16+) and Moderna (age 18+) first and second doses. Located in the auditorium at the Shoreline Center…

Starting May 10, over $10 million in grants available to help nonprofit community organizations

The Washington State Department of Commerce is partnering with ArtsFund to provide over $10 million in grants to help community organizations across the state that have been impacted by the pandemic. The Nonprofit Community Relief grant application portal opens Monday, May 10 for eligible Washington state organizations The grant program focuses on arts, culture, science and…

COVID briefing: ‘Sigh of relief’ as Snohomish County gets rollback reprieve

Snohomish County gets a reprieve. There is no rollback to Phase 2 COVID restrictions for the county; in fact, no rollbacks statewide.  That’s the news from Gov. Jay Inslee, who says all counties will stay where they are for the next two weeks. That means shopping, dining, outdoor recreation all stays where it is; we…

Advance appointments now optional at Snohomish County mass vaccination sites

Starting Wednesday, May 5, all mass vaccination sites operated by the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce will begin offering on-site registration for people who do not have a prior appointment. People may arrive at the sites during open hours to receive their vaccine even if they do not have an appointment. Vaccinations will be provided as…

Inslee announces two-week pause on phases

Gov. Jay Inslee Tuesday announced a two-week pause on movement in the Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan. Under the pause, every county will remain in its current phase. At the end of two weeks, each county will be re-evaluated. The decision was made in consultation with the Department of Health, and reflects current…

County COVID briefing: As numbers continue to rise, return to Phase 2 likely next week

The weekly COVID media briefing from Snohomish County officials was marked by a growing concern over the county’s stubbornly rising numbers of case rates and hospitalizations, the two critical metrics used by Gov. Inslee’s office to determine which reopening phase will be operative. On March 11 Inslee rolled out the revamped Roadmap to Recovery program,…

Beware of ‘unusual’ COVID testing sites, health district says

We had inquiries from readers Monday asking about free COVID testing being offered near the Edmonds ferry terminal, as it appeared that proper testing protocols weren’t being followed. Turns out, the Snohomish Health District has also received questions about the operation and is investigating. “We have received a couple emails from folks about the Edmonds…

Small Business Administration reopens grant applications for shuttered venue operators

The U.S. Small Business Administration on April 26 will reopen the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application portal for operators of live venues, live performing arts organizations, museums and movie theatres, as well as live venue promoters, theatrical producers and talent representatives to apply for critical economic relief. “We recognize the urgency and need to get this program…

Inslee announces reauthorization of Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine in Washington

Gov. Jay Inslee on Saturday announced that the Western States Workgroup that includes Washington state has authorized resuming the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The announcement comes after the FDA and CDC also authorized the restart of the J&J COVID vaccine. The Western States Workgroup, comprised of vaccine experts from Washington, California, Oregon and Nevada,…

MLT drive-thru vaccine clinic administering 1,000 shots this week

With a focus on ensuring more equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine, a drive-thru clinic is providing more than 1,000 appointments at the Premera Campus in Mountlake Terrace this week. The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Premera Blue Cross, QFC and Business Health Trust partnered to host the vaccination clinic. It is focused on serving populations,…

County taskforce to open mass vaccination site at Ash Way Park & Ride April 21

A new mass vaccination site is scheduled to open Wednesday, April 21, at the Ash Way Park & Ride, just off the 164th Street Southwest exit in South Snohomish County. This is the seventh mass vaccination site in the county operated by the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce. It is located at 16327 Ash Way, Lynnwood….

Everyone 16 and older in Washington state now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine

As of April 15, everyone 16 and older who wants a COVID-19 vaccine can receive one in Washington. The eligibility expansion marks the four-month anniversary of vaccine rollout in the state. Since mid-December, nearly 4.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across the state. More than 2.67 million people have received at least…

COVID-19 briefing: Snohomish County pauses adminstration of Johnson & Johnson vaccine

During the weekly Snohomish County briefing on COVID-19, County Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters announced Tuesday that effective immediately, the county is “putting a pause on the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.” The rationale, he said, comes from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration…

FEMA offering financial assistance for COVID-related funeral expenses

If you have lost a loved one to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing financial assistance for coronavirus-related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 202. The funds are provided under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. To apply,…

Free drive-thru COVID-19 testing and dental van in MLT Saturday

A community event providing free COVID-19 testing and dental services in Mountlake Terrace is set for the Masjid Umar Al-Farooq mosque on Saturday, April 10. Drive-thru tests for the coronavirus will be administered from 1-5 p.m. and people can expect to receive their results within approximately 24 hours. The mobile dental clinic will run from…

South County Fire offering COVID-19 vaccines in Lynnwood April 8

South County Fire, under the direction of the Snohomish Health District, will be providing COVID-19 vaccinations from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, April 8 at Northwest Life Church, 6510 188th St. S.W., Lynnwood. Registration is required here. The vaccine is the Johnson and Johnson single-dose, and it’s free with no insurance information needed. Those eligible include seniors…