Coronavirus

“Our business was probably before 10-15 percent of west Seattle, which is pretty good. But now it’s 50 percent. People in west Seattle are getting the message.”

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Kroger, the parent company of grocer Fred Meyer, announced Friday that it will provide “thank you” payments to hourly employees after a union outcry over the company ending a $2 per hour pay bump it implemented in March amid the coronavirus pandemic.The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union held rallies Friday at Fred Meyer stores seeking additional pay for workers while the pandemic continues.Kroger officials said Friday that bonus payments of $400 and $200 for full- and part-time employees will be paid in two installments in May and June.Fred Meyer has locations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.“Our associates have been instrumental in feeding America while also helping to flatten the curve during the initial phases of the pandemic,” Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO, said in statement. “As the country moves toward reopening, we will continue to safeguard our associates’ health and well-being and recognize their work.”Testing for the coronavirus is available for Fred Meyer employees based on their symptoms and medical need, said Fred Meyer spokesperson Jeffrey Temple.

Five sailors on the U.S. aircraft carrier sidelined in Guam due to a COVID-19 outbreak have tested positive for the virus for the second time and have been taken off the ship, according to the Navy.

SEATTLE — It's a spring tradition that a lot of people look forward to in the Pacific Northwest: the arrival of the first batch of prized Copper River salmon from Cordova, Alaska.Like so many other traditions, it was celebrated a little different this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The worst economic catastrophe since the Great Depression prompted lawmakers earlier this year to send a direct check of up to $1,200 to millions of Americans impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, but the outlook is hazy for a second cash payment.

A Tacoma man is finally going home after fighting off a nearly deadly battle with coronavirus for about a month.

TACOMA, Wash. -- Another county in Washington has been granted a variance by the state to move to Phase 2 of Gov.

MINNETONKA, Minn. - As states across the country begin reopening, UnitedHealth Group and Microsoft are offering an app to help employers screen workers for COVID-19 upon returning to work.The ProtectWell app provides workers a series of questions to screen for COVID-19 infection or exposure, including asking for the employee’s temperature and if they are experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath.

LAKE STEVENS, Wash. - A local family already dealing with the stress from their first pregnancy, faced unexpected challenges when the soon-to-be mom tested positive for COVID-19.In the past year Patricia Moya and her husband Skyler Schiller have experienced a lot.

SEATTLE -- Companies of all sizes are struggling to pay rent amid the coronavirus pandemic.For one local business, it all started at Pike Place Market.“I’ve been in business for 44 years,” Bonnie Harris said.Harris and her husband opened Scotty’s Juice Tree all those years ago.

Unemployment fraud is skyrocketing.

Members of the Washington National Guard helped hand out about 200,000 pounds of potatoes Thursday that had been donated by farmers who were unable to sell to their regular restaurant customers due to the coronavirus outbreak.

SEATTLE – Dozens of University of Washington medical professionals demonstrated outside Harborview Medical Center calling for safer working conditions.The crowd demanded more personal protection equipment and expressed worry that layoffs could impact employees who least can afford to lose a job.The demonstrations came after this as UW Medicine announced an enormous financial hole thanks to the COVID-19 crisis.“I think it’s a problem with priorities,” said Kisha Clune.Staffers claimed their bosses had not only failed to adequately protect employees, patients and their families, but demonstrators insisted proposed job cuts will hurt those least likely to recover.Seattle’s healthcare sector has been at the forefront of Puget Sound’s response to coronavirus, one of the most publicly visible efforts has been testing.A UW Medicine spokesperson told Q13 News the organization developed contract tracing and PPE policies using public health guidance and infectious disease experts.But some employees complain that’s not enough.“My concern is protection,” said Amanda Peters. “We need more face masks.”UW Medicine warned it could be half a billion dollars in the red by this summer because of the pandemic.

The oldest person to have survived after becoming infected with the novel coronavirus may be 113-year-old Maria Branyas.

CINCINNATI - Stay-at-home orders issued across the country and other COVID-19 related precautions amid the global pandemic have led to far fewer people on the road.