covid-19 Archives - Page 16 of 16 - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Schools Close, Colleges Go Online, Pullman Declares Emergency As COVID-19 Response Ramps Up

By NWPB News March 12, 2020

Gov. Jay Inslee announces a ban on large events and gatherings of more than 250 people in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. CREDIT: King County TV

Pullman and Yakima County declare emergencies. And events with more than 250 people are prohibited in Washington's King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. That's among many updates this week to the expanding COVID-19 outbreak in the Northwest.Read More

Coronavirus: COVID-19 Is Now Officially A Pandemic, WHO Says

By NPR News March 11, 2020

The World Health Organization called the COVID-19 viral disease a pandemic Wednesday. Here, workers in Spain place a medical mask on a figure that was to be part of the Fallas festival in Valencia. The festival has been canceled over the coronavirus outbreak. Alberto Saiz/AP

It's the first time the WHO has called an outbreak a pandemic since the H1N1 "swine flu" in 2009.Read More

Jay Inslee Orders Nursing Homes To Limit Visitors, Signals Social-Distancing Measures Are Next

By Austin Jenkins March 10, 2020

Warning that the number of coronavirus cases in Washington could double weekly, Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday indicated that mandatory social-distancing measures could be announced this week and, in the meantime, imposed new restrictions on nursing homes.Read More

Tri-Cities Couple Share Their Experience With Self-Quarantine

By Sueann Ramella March 9, 2020

Bruce Bjornstad and Diana Moeller of the Tri Cities. hed a self-quarantine. They shared their experience and offer advice.

A couple from the Tri Cities shares their experience with self-quarantine and offer advice. Read More

Grant County Case First COVID-19 Death In Eastern Washington; Inslee Hints At Crowd Restrictions

By Austin Jenkins March 8, 2020

On CBS' 'Face the Nation' Gov. Jay Inslee hinted that he may soon order mandatory social distancing measures to stem the spread of coronavirus.

"We are contemplating some next steps, particularly to protect our vulnerable populations and our nursing homes and [the] like and we are looking to determine whether mandatory measures are required," Inslee said in an interview Sunday morning with CBS's "Face the Nation."Read More

WATCH: Answering Your Questions About Coronavirus

By PBS Newshour March 7, 2020

PBS NewsHour - Answering your questions about coronavirus

As the number of cases in the U.S. continues to rise, so too do questions about how the virus spreads and how the average person can protect themselves. Health officials are simultaneously trying to understand the virus while improving they way they identify cases and contain those that are known — and encouraging people to just practice good hygiene (and to be cautious, Read More

Where That $8.3 Billion In U.S. Coronavirus Funding Will And Won’t Go

By NPR News March 7, 2020

President Trump signs an $8.3 billion emergency spending bill in the White House Friday. That's significantly more than he originally requested from Congress. CREDIT: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images

President Trump and Congress Friday authorized a package of emergency funding to help and treat and slow the spread of COVID-19. About $950 million is designated for state and local response.Read More

Vice President Pence Visits Washington State As Coronavirus Outbreak Grows

By Austin Jenkins March 6, 2020

Vice President Mike Pence, at podium, speaks as Gov. Jay Inslee, left, and other officials look on during a news conference, March 5, 2020, at Camp Murray in Washington state. Pence was in the state to discuss the state's efforts to fight the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. CREDIT Ted S. Warren/AP

As the death toll climbs and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Washington tops 70, Vice President Mike Pence traveled to the state Thursday to tour the Military Department’s Emergency Operations Center, meet with Gov. Jay Inslee and other elected leaders and announce the arrival of a shipment of supplies for healthcare workers from the Strategic National Stockpile Read More

Restrictive Coronavirus Testing To Be Relaxed Amid Widening Washington Outbreak

By Tom Banse March 4, 2020

Testing capacity for novel coronavirus in Washington increased significantly on Tuesday once a University of Washington virology lab began accepting samples. UW MEDICINE

As the death toll from the novel coronavirus continues to rise, many people who feel sick are naturally concerned they might have the infection. Until now, a coronavirus test has been difficult to get locally because of limited capacity and strict rules for who qualifies. However, both of those restrictions may relax soon.Read More

Jay Inslee Says Washingtonians ‘Should Begin To Think About Avoiding’ Large Crowds And Gatherings

By Tom Banse March 3, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is flanked, from left, by state Secretary of Health John Wiesman, Emergency Management Director Robert Ezelle and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal during a coronavirus briefing Monday in Olympia.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Monday that his emergency powers would allow him to order the cancellation of large public gatherings to control the growing coronavirus outbreak in his state. However, he told reporters during a briefing in Olympia that he does not plan to use that authority at this time.Read More

Washington Heath Department Requests Legislators Allocate $100M For Coronavirus Response

By Austin Jenkins March 2, 2020

Washington Sec. of Health John Wiesman testifies before the Senate Ways and Means Committee about the coronavirus outbreak and associated costs.

“We know we’ve got the coronavirus in our community, we know that we’re having some community spread, we know that the risk is increasing,” Sec. of Health John Wiesman told the Senate Ways and Means Committee Monday morning.Read More

UPDATE: At Least 6 People In Puget Sound Region Have Died From COVID-19 Coronavirus

By NWPB News March 1, 2020

EvergreenHealth Medical Center in Kirkland, Washington, where a person died of COVID-19. State health officials announced the death Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, marking the first such reported death in the U.S. CREDIT: Elaine Thompson/AP

A patient in King County who tested positive for coronavirus has died, according to state and local public health officials. It's believed to be the first coronavirus death in the U.S. The news prompted Gov. Jay Inslee to declare a state of emergency. Read More

How A Coronavirus Blood Test Could Solve Some Medical Mysteries

By NPR News February 29, 2020

As the coronavirus spreads more widely around the globe, scientists are starting to use a powerful new tool: a blood test that identifies people who have previously been exposed to the virus.Read More

UPDATE: Seattle-Area Coronavirus Patient Dies, First In U.S.; CDC Looks At More Possible Cases In State

By NPR News February 29, 2020

A face mask adorns a statue of St. Francis of Assisi in the town of San Fiorano, one of the places in Italy on lockdown due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. The picture was taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo. Marzio Toniolo/via Reuters

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced late Friday that it is "aware of four new presumptive cases of COVID-19" in Washington, Oregon and California.Read More

Olympic Officials Dismiss ‘Speculation’ That Coronavirus Could Disrupt Tokyo Games

By NPR News February 27, 2020

A tourist wearing a mask poses for a photo with the Olympic rings in the background, at Tokyo's Odaiba district, in a photo taken last month. Jae C. Hong/AP

The statement comes in response to remarks made earlier this week by a longtime International Olympic Committee member who suggested a late May deadline to decide the fate of the Tokyo Games.Read More

President Trump Appoints Mike Pence To Lead Government’s Coronavirus Response

By NPR News February 26, 2020

President Trump speaks as Vice President Pence listens during a Wednesday news conference about the U.S. response to the new coronavirus. CREDIT: Evan Vucci/AP

"Mike is going to be in charge," Trump said in an evening news conference, as officials said a case in the U.S. may have been transmitted within the community.Read More

Spokane Hospital Treating Out-Of-Area Coronavirus Patients In Specialized Unit

By NWPB News February 20, 2020

Up to four people who contracted the novel coronavirus are or will be recovering in an isolation unit at Sacred Heart.

The patients were transferred from Travis Air Force Base in California and are part of repatriation efforts, meaning they contracted the virus outside of the country. Bob Lutz, health officer for the Spokane Regional Health District, says their arrival shouldn’t worry the city’s residents.Read More