Washington unemployment rate dipped to 5.3% in May

Washington’s unemployment rate dipped slightly to 5.3 % last month, and the state added 8,300 jobs, officials announced Wednesday.

King County hits 70% vaccination rate, ending mask mandate on June 29

Washington's largest county has reached the 70% vaccination threshold, which means Local Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin's indoor mask directive will expire in two weeks on June 29.

Washington state warns of scams ahead of next round of vaccine lottery drawings

Tuesday marks the second chance for Washingtonians vaccinated against COVID-19 to win "Shot of a Lifetime" prizes from the state, but officials are also warning about potential scams.

As a sign of progress, state's largest vaccination site closes for good

 When the city of Seattle launched Lumen Field’s vaccination site back in March, it was the country's largest civilian led effort of its kind.

Gonzaga to require COVID-19 vaccines for students

Gonzaga University is joining the list of schools that will require students to prove they are vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to participate in campus activities this fall.

Seattle is first major city in US to fully vaccinate 70% of residents against COVID-19

Seattle passed San Francisco and became the first major American city to fully vaccinate 70% of residents ages 12 and up against COVID-19, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced.

Respiratory viruses returning as pandemic restrictions loosen

As restrictions loosen on mask wearing and social distancing, other respiratory viruses that have been quiet this past year are making a comeback.

Hawaii to drop COVID-19 restrictions for travelers once 70% of population is inoculated

Hawaii's governor says the state will drop its quarantine and COVID-19 testing requirements for travelers once 70% of the state’s population has been vaccinated against the disease.

COVID-19 origin: Fauci urges China to release Wuhan lab medical records

Dr. Anthony Fauci said China should release the medical records of six lab workers — three of whom died — after entering a bat cave in 2012 and becoming ill in 2019.

Blood donations safe from COVID-19, NIH says

The National Institutes of Health on Tuesday said COVID-19 does not pose a threat to blood donations in the U.S.

'Shot of a Lifetime:' Washington launches vaccine lottery with $2 million cash prizes, tuition, flights

Washington is the latest state to offer prizes to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 including lottery drawings totaling $2 million, college tuition assistance, airline tickets and game systems.

Even vaccinated California workers may have to keep masks on

The state safety board’s staff says conditions are different among workers, leading to their proposed rule that even vaccinated employees remain masked unless everyone else in their workspace is inoculated.

COVID-19 vaccines delivered to homebound families in Pierce County

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s homebound vaccination team is delivering doses to families in the South Sound.

Report: Child younger than 10 dies from COVID-19 complications in eastern Washington

A child younger than 10 who died of COVID-19 in Spokane County last week is the youngest person in the region to die of the disease, health officials told The Spokesman-Review. 

FDA recalls unauthorized at-home coronavirus rapid test over false results concerns

The COVID-19 antigen and antibody test kits were distributed to pharmacies and sold directly to consumers, and the FDA said it has "serious concerns about the performance" of both tests.