Arielle Dreher

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More than 100,000 Washington residents added to state Medicaid program

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 13, 2020

The state uninsured rate has gone up since the pandemic hit, and so far, more than 100,000 Washington residents have applied for Medicaid since the pandemic hit in March.

News

Do bats hold clues to preventing the next pandemic? WSU professor seeks answers, aids current vaccine effort

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 13, 2020

A Washington State University researcher is studying viruses in bats as a way to learn more about coronaviruses, and ideally, get ahead of the next pandemic.

News >  Washington

Washington’s COVID case counts are declining, but health officials warn there’s a long way to go

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 12, 2020

Statewide, COVID-19 cases in Washington state are declining, although incidence rates remain too high for many counties to have in-person classroom settings reopen safely.

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News

Community spread of COVID-19 continues in Idaho Panhandle, with more deaths reported

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 11, 2020

Benewah County reported the first death of a resident due to COVID-19 on Tuesday.There are 50 new cases in Spokane County.

News

The race for a COVID-19 vaccine continues, even in Washington state

Tue., Aug. 11, 2020

Finding a vaccine for COVID-19 is no easy task, but researchers granted a sped-up timeline for development are racing ahead with clinical trials. Moderna's vaccine candidate is entering its third clinical phase, where they must recruit 30,000 volunteers from around the United States.

News

In-person learning in Spokane County schools will be ‘challenging,’ health officer says

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 10, 2020

Spokane County Health Officer Dr. Bob Lutz expects to see COVID-19 cases, and possibly outbreaks, in schools that are open for in-person instruction this fall. 

News >  Spokane

Thirteen COVID-19 deaths reported this week in Spokane County as hospitalizations projected to increase

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 7, 2020

There were 83 patients receiving treatment at Spokane hospitals as of Friday, and state modelers predict that hospitalizations will continue to increase.

News >  Spokane

As Spokane care facilities struggle with outbreaks, state announces phased plan for easing visitor restrictions

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 6, 2020

While a dozen Spokane long-term care facilities are battling COVID-19 outbreaks and rising numbers of deaths, state officials announced plans Thursday to give such residences the opportunity to gradually ease their restrictions on visitations.

News >  Spokane

Spokane sets new daily COVID-19 case record with 175 positive tests, 5 deaths

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 6, 2020

The Spokane Regional Health District reported a record high of 175 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, as well as five new deaths.

News >  Spokane

As Spokane care facilities struggle with outbreaks, state announces phased plan for easing visitor restrictions

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 7, 2020

More than 200 COVID-19 cases are connected to outbreaks in long-term care facilities and adult family homes in Spokane County currently. On Thursday, the governor announced that the state has created criteria for long-term care facilities to open up to visitors if they meet certain markers.

News >  Spokane

As case counts plateau, hospitalizations climb in Spokane County

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 5, 2020

More than 90 patients are receiving treatment for COVID-19 in the Inland Northwest, including patients in Coeur d'Alene at Kootenai Health.

News >  Washington

Half of outbreaks in Washington have been in long-term care facilities, new state report says

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 4, 2020

A new report from the Department of Health shows that half of the confirmed outbreaks in Washington have been in long-term care settings.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County tops 4,000 coronavirus cases, but daily count may be plateauing

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 3, 2020

Seven Spokane County residents died from COVID-19 over the weekend, bringing the total number of residents who have died to 66.

News >  Pacific NW

Five weeks with COVID-19: A Spokane woman’s battle to overcome the coronavirus

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 10, 2020

Leslie Laursen fought COVID-19 for five weeks, experiencing tiring and at times grueling and disorienting symptoms.

News >  Spokane

‘It was the right time to jump in’: Community group aids Marshallese community hit hard by pandemic

Sun., Aug. 2, 2020

It started with the pandemic.

News >  Spokane

‘It’s a good mix of medicine and social justice’: Medical student gets experience at NATIVE Project during pandemic

Sun., Aug. 2, 2020

Kika Kaui had options and time at the outset of 2020.

News >  Idaho

Spokane reports record 146 new cases as statewide COVID activity continues to rise

UPDATED: Fri., July 31, 2020

Some rural regions are getting hit hard by COVID-19 in Washington state, as disease activity continues to rise.

News >  Washington

Spokane to add isolation facility, contact tracers as 104 new cases are confirmed

UPDATED: Thu., July 30, 2020

Ten county residents have died from COVID-19 in Spokane County this week alone, as the virus continues to spread more widely in the region.

News

Spokane Regional Health Board adopts equity resolution

UPDATED: Thu., July 30, 2020

The Spokane Regional Health District Board of Health passed an equity resolution, which directs the health district to incorporate an equitable approach to their internal and external programming and policies.

News

COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths expected to increase in coming weeks

UPDATED: Wed., July 29, 2020

When there is widespread transmission of COVID-19 in the community, the risks increase for everyone, including those in long-term care settings, state health officials said on Wednesday.

News >  Spokane

North Spokane nursing facility has 32 COVID-19 cases; county reports 83 new cases, 5 deaths

UPDATED: Tue., July 28, 2020

The number of long-term care facilities reporting COVID-19 activity in Washington has increased steadily since June, and 11 facilities in Spokane County now have cases in staff or residents.

News

240 new COVID cases reported over the weekend in Spokane County

UPDATED: Mon., July 27, 2020

The Spokane Regional Health District reported 240 new cases of COVID-19 in residents over the weekend, including 91 new cases confirmed on Monday.

News >  Idaho

‘Concerning’ situation emerges as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations rise in rural and urban Inland Northwest

UPDATED: Sat., July 25, 2020

Summer has brought novel coronavirus outbreaks to new, smaller pockets of Eastern Washington, including parts of the state previously untouched by the pandemic.

News >  Spokane

Spokane crests 3,000-case mark; state tops 50,000

UPDATED: Thu., July 23, 2020

Spokane County topped 3,000 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, as the Spokane Regional Health District confirmed 115 new cases.

News >  Spokane

More Spokane residents adhere to mask mandate, but it might be weeks before case counts decrease

UPDATED: Wed., July 22, 2020

The vast majority of Spokane residents are complying with the statewide mask mandate, the most recent observational survey from the health district found.