Coronavirus News

Although the vote is not binding, it is likely that it will form the basis of a formal FDA recommendation.

Doctors are trying to figure out why some kids become much sicker than others and, in rare cases, don’t survive.

With the FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the continued surge of the delta variant, governments across the world have renewed their push to increase the number of vaccinated individuals by persuading the holdouts.

Rapid at-home covid tests are flying off store shelves across the nation and are largely sold out online as the delta variant complicates a return to school, work and travel routines.

The rise of coronavirus variants has highlighted the huge influence evolutionary biology has on daily life. 

Of the 203 million people who have received at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine, more than 9 million have enrolled in a program to share information about their health since getting the shot.

Island Hospital will host a virtual community briefing next week on the current state of COVID-19 in our region.

As an emergency medicine and critical care doctor at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, I’ve lost count of the number of COVID-19 surges since the U.S. pandemic began in Seattle in February 2020.

The principle that certain minors may be vaccinated without parental consent is woven into our country’s history.

As covid case numbers rise nationwide, Georgia and some other states have restricted the case count data they share publicly.

The anti-vaccine movement has used this once-obscure database to spread misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Beginning Monday, August 30, Skagit County will once again be operating a COVID-19 testing and vaccination site at the Skagit County Fairgrounds.

Full FDA approval is a milestone that may help build confidence among the vaccine hesitant about the safety of the vaccines. 

 Governor Inslee announced that the existing statewide mask mandate will be expanded to once again include vaccinated individuals in indoor settings effective Monday, August 23.

The increasing prevalence of new coronavirus variants is raising questions about how well protected those who’ve already had their COVID-19 shots are against evolving forms of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

As the spread of the delta variant threatens the safety of classrooms, a poll released Wednesday found nearly two-thirds of parents support schools’ requiring unvaccinated students age 5 or older and teachers to wear masks. 

With the delta variant making up over 93% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. at the end of July 2021, questions arise about how to stay protected against evolving forms of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Americans are a highly individualistic nation, and the spirit of “rugged individualism,” or the idea of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps,” runs deep in American culture and history.

Masks help stop the spread of the coronavirus. They’re a literal layer between you and any virus in the air and can help prevent infection.

Per Governor Inslee’s announcement today, masks will continue to be required in all schools this fall for students, staff, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status. This requirement is based on new CDC guidance. 

Skagit County Health Officer fails to join other health officers in urging everyone to mask up in public indoor spaces, suggesting everyone get vaccinated.

They are two sisters in two states. Both are dedicated health care professionals who watched in horror as COVID-19 swept through the nation’s nursing homes, killing a staggering number of residents and staff alike. One sister is now vaccinated. The other is not.

As a deadly heat wave scorched our area last month, overwhelming hospital emergency rooms unaccustomed to triple-digit temperatures, doctors in Seattle and Renton resorted to a grim but practical tool to save lives: human body bags filled with ice and water.

In recent weeks, one piece of data has gotten a lot of attention: 99.5% of all the people dying from COVID-19 in the U.S. are unvaccinated.

Should the nearly 60% of adult Americans who have been fully vaccinated seek out a booster or not? Is the protection that has allowed them to see loved ones and go out to dinner fading?

Two COVID-19 cases attributed to the delta variant have been identified in Skagit County so far, though it can be assumed that the variant has spread more widely given that sequencing is not done on all tests.

The state sits at 67.8% of Washingtonians 16 and older who have initiated vaccination, meaning they have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine.

Vaccines are one of the most innovative public health interventions in medical history. They activate the most effective human weapon against viruses that exists – our own immune system.

When the pandemic sidelined in-office visits at his practice, Dr. Dael Waxman “wasn’t exactly thrilled with being at home.” But he quickly shifted gears to video and telephone appointments.

The day Dr. Elizabeth Dawson was diagnosed with covid-19 in October, she awoke feeling as if she had a bad hangover. Four months later she tested negative for the virus, but her symptoms have only worsened.

The final day to drive-up or make an appointment for a first-dose COVID vaccine at the Skagit County Fairgrounds will be Saturday, June 5.

Ronald Lindquist, 87, has been active all his life. So, he wasn’t prepared for what happened when he stopped going out during the coronavirus pandemic and spent most of his time, inactive, at home.

Once dismissed as a conspiracy theory, the idea that the covid virus escaped from a Chinese lab is gaining high-profile attention. As it does, reputations of renowned scientists are at risk — and so is their personal safety.

COVID-19 is notoriously hard to control, and political leaders are only part of the calculus when it comes to pandemic management. But some current and former world leaders have made little effort to combat outbreaks in their country, whether by downplaying the pandemic’s severity, disregarding science or ignoring critical health interventions like social distancing and masks. All of the men on this list committed at least one of those mistakes, and some committed all of them – with deadly consequences.<

Though researchers are still learning how well the vaccine can help prevent spread, vaccination is still an important way to limit infecting people who are not yet eligible for the vaccine, like younger children.

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has officially expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to everyone 12 years of age and older.

With the first COVID-19 vaccine now authorized for adolescents, ages 12 and up, a big question looms: Will students be required to get the vaccine before returning to their classrooms in the fall?

Kai Humphrey, 9, has been learning from home for more than a year. He badly misses his Washington, D.C., elementary school, along with his friends and the bustle of the classroom.

The school district has scheduled an open, public meeting to describe changes planned for classes. 

Over 50 percent of eligible Skagitonians have initiated vaccination; County remains in Phase 3, according to Skagit County.

Due to increased coronavirus cases throughout Skagit County, and following Skagit County Health Department guidance, the Anacortes School District will keep its middle and high school students in their current hybrid learning model.

Nursing homes and long-term care facilities, where 182,000 Americans perished during the covid pandemic, have taken heat from government regulators, residents and their families. Now the industry is hearing it from an unexpected source: their investors.

Skagit County is experiencing increasing infection rates and hospitalization rates in recent weeks and many of the infections and hospitalizations are among younger people.

The Anacortes School District is responding to three positive cases of COVID-19 among its students linked to on-site athletic exposure.

The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines has accelerated across the country, including in Washington State, where vaccine eligibility expanded to all Washingtonians over the age of 16 years old on April 15. However, many community members still have questions.

If someone gets a headache or feels a bit under the weather after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, it’s become common to hear them say something like “Oh, it just means my immune system is really working hard.” On the flip side, when people don’t notice any side effects, they sometimes worry the shot isn’t doing its job or their immune system isn’t reacting at all.

The simple answer is that enough remains unknown about covid transmission, post-infection immunity and the threat of emerging variants that masks are still advisable.

It’s the moment we thought we were all waiting for…or is it? We were cautiously optimistic about the end of the pandemic in view of increasing vaccine availability and decreasing case numbers after the peak in January.

A pediatrician answers 5 questions parents are asking.

Pilar’s parents took all the recommended precautions to shield her from the dangers of COVID-19. They stayed at home, away from family, friends and group activities. Pilar had remained in virtual schooling throughout the pandemic as a first and then second grader.

Daily COVID-19 case counts in Skagit County have been trending upward over the past several days, with daily new cases in the double-digits for the first time in nearly two weeks. 

With a mix of relief and caution, older adults fully vaccinated against covid-19 are moving out into the world and resuming activities put on hold during the pandemic.

A new poll of attitudes toward covid vaccinations shows Americans are growing more enthusiastic about being vaccinated, with the most positive change in the past month occurring among Black Americans.

The vaccination rollout has been unsteady, but the vaccines seem very effective, raising hopes that the pandemic will subside by later this year if enough Americans get their shots. Meanwhile, remain cautious.

The pictures are on the nightly news, on billboards, bus stop posters and all over social media. How can people who fear needles manage to get their covid shots?

Medicare will cover the vaccine for the new coronavirus. The CARES Act of March 2020 specifically states that “coverage of the COVID-19 vaccine” is taken care of by Medicare Part B. But what about people with a Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) plan?

Skagit County Public Health says that evidence of the COVID-19 virus variant has been found in Skagit County.

If you got the COVID-19 shot, you likely received a little paper card that shows you’ve been vaccinated. Make sure you keep that card in a safe place. There is no coordinated way to share information about who has been vaccinated and who has not.

In the thick of a global pandemic, and with a vaccine rollout that has been less than optimal, it’s no surprise that selfies featuring the coveted covid shot surface on social media timelines. But is posting a vaccine selfie on your social media account a faux pas or a needed encouragement for others to get the shot?

President Biden has promised enough doses for all American adults by this summer. There’s not much even the Defense Production Act can do to deliver doses before then.

In the hours before President Joe Biden was inaugurated, the Federal Emergency Management Agency allowed a Texas mask maker to ship the high-quality masks overseas.

Looking for Covid-19 vaccinations in Skagit County? There are several vaccine providers in Skagit County, including hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.

Industry experts say it’s highly unlikely that dozens of pharmaceutical companies that aren’t already producing covid vaccines stand ready to do so.

Governor Inslee has announced that the North Region- which includes Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan Counties—will be moving forward to Phase 2 of the Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery Plan beginning on Sunday, Feb. 14. 

Reaching people who may have been in contact with covid patients has helped cut the number of infections, but these tracing efforts become less effective as the number of cases grows.

Adult patients who have excess weight or obesity are among the most impacted by COVID-19, and they make up more than 70% of the U.S. population.

Across the country, politics have muddied the question of when and how to reopen schools. 

Governors continue to open indoor dining and other activities before vaccinations become widespread.

Americans' frustrations surrounding the amount of available covid vaccine hinges on several factors - not the least of which is that demand far exceeds supply.

When President Joe Biden was sworn in on Jan. 20, he inherited the raging COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most difficult crises any incoming president has ever faced.

Americans’ reluctance to get vaccinated for covid-19 is waning, according to a poll released Wednesday.

Thousands of Americans are dying from Covid-19, but efforts to increase production of potentially life-saving vaccines are at a dead end.

Black Americans are receiving covid vaccines at a much lower rate than their white peers due to a combination of mistrust and access issues, leaving them behind in the mission to vaccinate the nation’s population.

Skagit County to begin Phase 1B vaccinations at Fairgrounds on January 26; testing site hours change

As covid cases and deaths soar, it’s difficult to get up-to-date, reliable information about inoculations, and many older adults don’t know where to turn for help. Navigating Aging columnist Judith Graham answers questions from several readers.

The Island Hospital Foundation and Island Hospital are hosting a free, online community briefing on the COVID-19 vaccine Thursday, January 14^th at 5:00 p.m. 

Governor Inslee announced another, new phased plan called ‘Healthy Washington- Roadmap to Recovery.’

After a year of toxic stress ignited by so much fear and uncertainty, now is a good time to reset, pay attention to your mental health and develop some healthy ways to manage the pressures going forward.

There are already signs that distribution of the COVID vaccines will be messy, confusing and chaotic.

In the COVID-19 era, older adults see time differently and are doing better than younger people

It’s no worse than the flu, and other deadly disinformation about the coronavirus

Children don’t come with how-to manuals. Even if they did, they would all require a manual of their own, tailored to their unique make and model. 

With two vaccines against coronavirus disease poised for release within weeks, experts say they expect attitudes to shift dramatically from hesitancy to “Beanie Baby” -level urgency.

COVID-19's “long haulers” - patients with lingering effects of the disease - have joined the ranks of Americans with preexisting conditions. For those shopping for health coverage on the individual market, here's help navigating an uncharted insurance landscape.

Dentists and optometrists across the country are trying to join in the fight to get everyone vaccinated against COVID-19, the flu and other diseases.

Lax states are attracting shoppers and students from stricter neighbors, like Washington state — and sending back COVID-19 cases. 

As Americans prepare for the first Thanksgiving in the time of the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a stark warning a week before the big day: Don’t travel.

In a new interview, the nation's top infectious disease expert tells us how to survive the coming months and describes how hard it is when people still insist the coronavirus outbreak is “fake news.”

California’s ping-ponging approach to managing the pandemic — twice reopening large portions of the service sector economy only to shut them again — has residents and business owners on edge. 

Rapid antigen testing is a mess. The federal government pushed it out without a plan, and then spent weeks denying problems with false positives.

Governor Inslee announced changes to current COVID-19 guidance. The new guidance will take effect at midnight on Monday, Nov. 16 (with a few exceptions) and be in place until at least Dec. 14, 2020.

Skagit County will be moving the COVID test site to Skagit County Fairgrounds beginning next Wednesday, Nov. 18. The test site at Skagit Valley College will be closed on Monday, November 16 and Tuesday, November 17 to facilitate the move.

A change in administration in January will bring a new pandemic strategy for the United States. 

Health care workers don’t need patronizing praise. They need resources, federal support, and for us to stay healthy and out of their hospitals. In many cases, none of that is happening.

With employees emotionally drained and residents suffering from loss, many nursing homes and assisted living centers are working with chaplains, social workers and mental health professionals to help people deal with the effects of the coronavirus.

Drugmaker Pfizer is expected to seek federal permission to release its COVID-19 vaccine by the end of November, a move that holds promise for quelling the pandemic, but also sets up a tight time frame for making sure consumers understand what it will mean to actually get the shots.

A review of state distribution plans reveals that officials don’t know how they’ll deal with the difficult storage and transport requirements of Pfizer’s vaccine. Washington state’s Health Department does not have its own warehouse that can store the Pfizer vaccine at a cold enough temperature.

The Anacortes School District has decided to delay the planned in-person return of students in grades 4-5, who were expected to return to school buildings next Monday.

Montana is seeking penalties against some businesses that violated its mask and social distancing directives, after months of reluctance to enforce COVID restrictions. Meanwhile, cities, counties and tribal nations still struggle to get people to mask up and avoid crowds.

Older adults are deliberating what to do as days and nights turn chilly and coronavirus cases rise across the country. Some are forming “bubbles” with small groups of friends who agree on pandemic precautions and will see one another in person. Others are planning to go it alone.