Tracking COVID-19 and the pandemic in Tri-Cities, Washington, and beyond.
COVID-19
Washington State Patrol Loses 127 Personnel to Vaccine Mandate Deadline
(Olympia, WA) -- The Washington State Patrol announced that as of Monday, 127 individuals have been released due to Washington's vaccine mandate. The total includes 53 civil servants and 74 commissioned officers (67 troopers, 6 sergeants, and 1 captain) that have, in varying ways, separated from employment
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Boeing Vaccine Mandate Protest
Hundreds of Boeing Washington-based employees are protesting the company's new COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Several hundred people rallied Friday outside the Machinists union hall in Everett. The Aerospace company announced last week that it's requiring all of its U
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Washington and Oregon Vaccine Mandates Enter Into Effect
(Olympia, WA) -- Monday is the deadline for many of Washington's workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Employees affected by the mandate were allowed to apply for religious or medical exemptions, and some unions were able to bargain for different accommodations regarding the deadline
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Washington to Soon Require Vaccination Proof or Negative COVID Test at Large Events
(Olympia, WA) -- Washington State will soon require people attending large events to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or a recent negative test result. Governor Jay Inslee announced the new rule Thursday, and it will take effect on November 15th
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More Lawsuits Filed Over Inslee Vaccine Mandates
(Spokane, WA) -- Nearly two-dozen more state workers from various counties in Washington are filing a lawsuit over Governor Jay Inslee's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The lawsuit filed Wednesday names Inslee as a defendant along with other state, county, and city leaders; more plaintiffs and defendants are expected to be added
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Washington Protests Continue as Vaccine Deadline Looms
(Olympia, WA) -- Monday is the deadline for Washington state employees to receive their final COVID-19 vaccination shot in order to comply with Governor Inslee's vaccine mandate. He issued the mandate in August requiring state employees, school employees, health care workers and long-term care facility workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18th
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Washington COVID-19 Utility Moratorium Expires Thursday
(Olympia, WA) -- Governor Jay Inslee's extension of the COVID-19 Utility Moratorium officially expires Thursday. Officials say hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians are currently behind on their utility bills--including electric, water, and gas. Starting
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Inslee Says Idaho Must Do More To Control COVID-19
OLYMPIA, Wash.--Governor Jay Inslee is calling on Idaho leaders to do more to control the surge of COVID-19 cases in that state. Inslee spoke on MSNBC Friday, saying Idaho is "clogging up" Washington state's hospitals by sending their COVID-19 patients across state lines for care
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Othello High School Goes Virtual for COVID
Othello High School has moved to temporary distance learning because of the number of students in quarantine.
In a statement online, the district said more than 200 students are currently in home quarantine.
Students began distance learning today and will do so through October 1
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Walla Walla Vaccine Mandate False
A false online rumor squelched by the City of Walla Walla.
The City Council of Walla Walla has refuted the internet rumor claiming that city officials were planning to require residents to prove their COVID-19 vaccination status to utilize city services, shop or travel in the city
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