The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has released its updated COVID-19 guidance for K-12 schools and child care. According to a department news release, the guidance takes lessons learned from the first two and a half years of the pandemic, and outlines both required and recommended measures for the 2022-23 school year to help…
COVID-19 coronavirus
Snohomish County purchases first hotel for those without housing
Snohomish County is planning to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to purchase its first hotel to be converted into “time-limited, bridge housing” for those who are homeless. The Days Inn facility in Everett will provide 74 new units to those individuals living without shelter, the county said in a Monday press release. As…
New telehealth option launched to expand COVID-19 treatment access
To increase access to potentially life-saving medication to treat COVID-19, the Washington State Department of Health and its partners have launched a new telehealth option for patients. According to a Department of Health press release, the new option expands the federal government’s Test to Treat initiative and gives people at risk of severe disease another…
Snohomish County temporarily reopens emergency rental assistance program
Have you or a loved one been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic? The Snohomish County Emergency Rental Assistance Program has temporarily reopened to accept new applications through 211. The program has limited funds and assistance cannot be guaranteed. For more information, visit snohomish-county-coronavirus-response-snoco-gis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/emergency-rental-assistance The county also provided the following additional resources: Utility Assistance: snohomishcountywa.gov/552/Energy-Assistance Food…
Reminder: City hosting Snohomish County pandemic recovery open house Wednesday
The Snohomish County Office of Recovery and Resilience is asking area residents for feedback on pandemic recovery needs at an upcoming series of public events. The City of Mountlake Terrace will host the first open house for District 4 on Wednesday, May 25 from 6-7:30 p.m. at City Hall. Area residents are invited to attend the…
County leaders promote ‘higher level of precautions’ as COVID case rates rise
Say the word COVID more than two years after the outbreak, and we think we’ve heard it all. People shake their heads, roll their eyes, sigh – “enough” – the body language can be loud and clear. We may be done hearing about the pandemic, but — you knew there had to be a “but”…
Snohomish County announces $5 million pandemic recovery program focused on small businesses, tourism
Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers Monday announced $5.2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investments to support pandemic recovery efforts for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and tourism. These investments include the creation of a Small Business Innovation Assistance (SBIA) program, which provides technical assistance and grants to small businesses and entrepreneurs; and an expansion…
Puget Sound area transit agencies no longer requiring face masks
Agencies providing transit services to riders throughout the Puget Sound region announced Tuesday that face coverings will no longer be required on transit, at transit facilities or in transit hubs. The change is effective immediately, and includes the following agencies: Community Transit Everett Transit King County Metro Kitsap Transit Pierce Transit Seattle Department of Transportation…
State Board of Health votes against requiring COVID-19 vaccines for K-12 students
The Washington State Board of Health on Wednesday voted not to include COVID-19 in the state’s immunization requirements for K-12 students to attend school. According to The Seattle Times, the vote comes after the board’s technical advisory group voted at the end of February to recommend against adding a COVID vaccine to the list of…
COVID recovery dollars: From housing to child care, Snohomish County outlines plans for spending $340 million
We don’t often use the words “COVID” and “money” in the same sentence. But the pandemic triggered a tidal wave of government spending — and Snohomish County is about to get another $80 million to help Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and the rest of the county recover from the upheaval of the past two years….
MLT News
Sign Up for Our Daily MLT Newsletter
Why Brier was among six small Washington cities that left thousands in federal relief unclaimed
The following story has been republished from Crosscut.com with permission Sifting through the reporting requirements to receive federal pandemic recovery dollars, Brier Mayor Dale Kaemingk just didn’t think his staff had the time to deal with the extra paperwork that came along with the money. For Brier, a city of about 7,000 people, the decision…
Health Department: Second COVID-19 booster dose recommended for certain individuals
People age 50 and older and certain immunocompromised individuals can now get a second booster dose of an mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after receiving their initial booster dose. The Washington State Department of Health said Wednesday it has updated its booster dose recommendations following guidance from the U.S. Food…
During media briefing, county health officer discusses Healthy Youth Survey results, latest COVID numbers
After a brief update on COVID-19 cases in Snohomish County — which are continuing to drop — County Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters spent most of his time during a Tuesday afternoon media briefing talking about the just-released results of the 2021 Washington State Healthy Youth Survey, which included more than 15,000 students in the…
Department of Health outlines next phase of Washington’s COVID-19 response
The Washington State Department of Health on Thursday released its long-term ForWArd plan for the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and “co-exist with COVID-19 for the foreseeable future,” the department said in a news release. To date, more than 13 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across Washington, which the department says…
Recreation Pavilion to remove mask requirement
Starting Saturday, customers at the Mountlake Terrace Recreation Pavilion will not be required to wear masks. However, the city still recommends mask use, and anyone who chooses to remain masked may do so. The new guidelines are in line with state policy, and also apply to visitors with appointments and hearings at Mountlake Terrace City…
As masking requirements end, some reminders from the Snohomish Health District
With the statewide mask order lifting at midnight Friday, masks become optional in most public settings but still are required in certain venues or situations. Though local health jurisdictions have the authority to put in place mask requirements at the county level, the Snohomish Health District said in a Friday news release it is aligning…
Edmonds School District to lift indoor, outdoor mask mandates March 14
Updated with clarification that both indoor and outdoor mandates end March 14. The Edmonds School District announced Tuesday night it will be lifting its indoor mask mandate in schools and district offices starting Monday, March 14. The outdoor mask mandate will end Wednesday, March 9, the district said. The school district “will continue to recommend…
COVID briefing: With most mask mandates ending March 12, county leaders celebrate good news
In the shortest COVID briefing of the pandemic — just 15 minutes — Snohomish County officials celebrated the good news as we move to end mandatory masking and concentrate on what County Executive Dave Somers called our “focus toward recovery.” A sign of that – the county will go to once-a-month COVID briefings starting in…
State indoor mask requirements to be lifted at midnight March 12
With declining COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Monday that the state will be lifting its mask requirements as of 11:59 p.m. Friday, March 11. The state is also moving from mask requirements to mask recommendations in schools. Inslee had previously announced Feb. 17 that statewide mask orders will be ending…
Snohomish Health District adjusting COVID testing, vaccine schedules to meet current needs
As Snohomish County COVID-19 case counts continue to decline — and nearly 80% of eligible residents having received at least one COVID vaccine — the Snohomish Health District said it is adjusting its current vaccination and testing operations to meet current needs. The Everett site, located at 3715 Oakes Ave., will continue to be open Monday…
Statewide indoor mask orders to end March 21; Edmonds School Board to discuss mask policy at Feb. 22 meeting
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday that statewide mask orders will be ending for most indoor settings March 21, including K-12 schools and child care facilities. Masks will still be required in health care settings such as hospitals, outpatient and dental offices, long term care settings, and correctional facilities. “The virus has changed significantly over the…
Snohomish County sees dramatic drop in COVID cases
COVID is quickly releasing its grip in Snohomish County, as it is across the nation. The comments that came from county leaders In the weekly coronavirus briefing included: “amazing,” “proud” and “the trajectory is fantastic and hopeful.” As fast as the Omicron variant swept through this area, it is in an equally fast retreat. That…
Free masks available at branches of Sno-Isle Libraries
Those looking to upgrade their masks for better protection can now get free KN90 masks at their local libraries, the Snohomish Health District said. Upgraded masks, like KN90, KF94 or N95, offer a higher level of protection compared to cloth or disposable procedure masks. Unfortunately, that higher quality comes with a higher price tag, especially when they…
Free COVID-19 vaccination event Friday in Mountlake Terrace
The Masjid Umar Al-Farooq mosque in Mountlake Terrace is holding a free walk-in COVID-19 vaccination event Friday, Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Participants are asked to bring their identification and an insurance card, if they have one, but insurance is not required to receive a vaccination. Masjid Umar…
County COVID briefing: Positive numbers for a change as cases, hospitalizations drop
What a difference a week makes. We have the “opportunity to continue to turn the tide,” Snohomish County Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters told the weekly COVID briefing Tuesday. Spitters’ comments were the first of a string of positive data from the county. New cases 16,000 – two weeks ago 9,000 – last week Hospitalizations…