Officials: COVID filling hospital beds statewide while vaccine newcomers come around

Health officials are sounding the alarm, saying critical care beds across the state of Washington are filling up faster than it ever has since the beginning of the pandemic. 

NIH scientists develop faster, less costly COVID-19 test

NIH scientists discovered a new COVID-19 test technique that may reduce test time and cost while increasing efficiency.

COVID: Oregon issues mask mandate, warns of hospital surge

Gov. Kate Brown on Tuesday announced a statewide indoor mask requirement in Oregon as coronavirus hospitalizations and cases reach record high numbers in the state and health care systems are overwhelmed.

Could Delta variant impact return to in person learning for Washington schools?

With hospitalizations going up across the nation, including at Seattle Children’s Hospital, the question is what impacts, if any, could we see for schools this fall?

Snohomish County residents, visitors react to countywide mask directive

The Snohomish Health District issued a new mask directive for everyone 5-years-old and up in Snohomish County starting Aug. 12. Health officer Dr. Chris Spitters said the face coverings will be required indoors, including:

Pediatricians warn of 'pressing risk' among children as delta variant spreads

The American Academy of Pediatrics wrote a letter to the FDA urging it to work “aggressively” toward authorizing a COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 12.

Delta variant accounts for 93% of US COVID-19 cases, CDC estimates

CDC data shows the delta variant makes up 83.4% of COVID cases in the United States. But when combined with its sublineages, that number grows to 93.4%.

Washington hospitals 'quite full' amid COVID-19 case surge

The latest COVID-19 surge in cases brought on by the highly-contagious delta variant and causing serious illness in unvaccinated people is straining Washington state’s health care system, officials said.

Washington sees 1,500 new cases a day of COVID-19 in recent days

Washington state has seen an average of 1,500 new cases a day of COVID-19 over the past four days, and health officials said Tuesday they are concerned about not only a rise in cases but hospitalizations due to the highly contagious delta variant.

Kaiser Permanente requiring COVID vaccines for all employees, physicians

Kaiser Permanente announced it will make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for all its employees and physicians as COVID and delta variant cases surge across the country. 

CDC reports 70% of U.S. adults have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
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Businesses and agencies starting to require vaccination of employees ? On Monday, the Washington State Hospital Association urged medical facilities to require similar policies.

Tracking the delta variant
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As delta variant spreads, officials say they are not looking to impose lockdowns

CDC documents claim delta variant is contagious as chicken pox
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People around the nation reconsidering lifestyle again after internal CDC report claims the delta variant is more severe and universal mask wearing is needed.

Citing delta variant, Washington state urges indoor masks
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Covid-19 cases have spiked among non-vaccinated individuals. The delta variant is now the dominant strain infecting people in Washington state.