Arielle Dreher

All Stories

News >  Spokane

9th resident at Spokane Veterans Home dies of COVID-19

UPDATED: Thu., May 14, 2020

Another veteran at the Spokane Veterans Home died from COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total number of residents who have died due to the virus to nine.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County denied variance to move early to next phase of reopening; leaders hopeful for clearance next week

UPDATED: Thu., May 14, 2020

The Washington Department of Health denied Spokane County’s request to move to Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start plan on Thursday because the state has yet to develop criteria for larger counties to request variance.

News >  Spokane

Local effort to trace, quarantine those who come into contact with COVID-19-positive people ramps up

UPDATED: Wed., May 13, 2020

If you spend more than 10 minutes less than six feet away from someone who tests positive the coronavirus, a team of contact tracers could be calling you soon – and asking you to quarantine.

---

News >  Spokane

Four more cases, one more hospitalization from COVID-19 in Spokane

UPDATED: Wed., May 13, 2020

Spokane County added four more confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, for a total of 390 cases. No new deaths were reported, and one more person was hospitalized due to the virus.

News >  Spokane

Health officer: ‘Very strong likelihood’ masks will be mandated in Spokane soon

Wed., May 13, 2020

Research shows that wearing face coverings in public is a vital part of keeping transmission rates low as counties, states and countries look to reopen.

News >  Spokane

State ready to launch contact tracing initiative; testing plans in progress

UPDATED: Tue., May 12, 2020

The state’s COVID-19 response has launched a large contact tracing initiative, with increased testing plans in the works.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County Health Board, health officer ask state to consider sooner reopening for Spokane

UPDATED: Tue., May 12, 2020

The Spokane Board of Health is asking state officials to allow the county to move to Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s reopening plan, with Health Officer Dr. Bob Lutz’ approval.

News >  Washington

Three more counties, including Stevens County, cleared to go to Phase 2 of state reopening plan

UPDATED: Mon., May 11, 2020

The Washington Department of Health cleared three additional counties to move to Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start reopening plan.

News >  Spokane

Five Eastern Washington counties get green light to move to Phase 2 of reopening

UPDATED: Mon., May 11, 2020

Five counties in Eastern Washington can move ahead to Phase 2 in the state’s reopening plan, although many industries are waiting for guidelines from the governor’s office.

News >  Spokane

6th Spokane Veterans Home resident with COVID-19 dies

UPDATED: Thu., May 7, 2020

A sixth resident of the Spokane Veterans Home who was diagnosed with COVID-19 died in a local hospital Thursday, according to the Washington Department of Veteran Affairs.

News >  Spokane

State prepares to weather bleak mental health forecast that shows millions of Washingtonians adversely affected

UPDATED: Fri., May 8, 2020

Mental health experts estimate 2 million to 3 million Washington residents’ mental health will be adversely impacted by the virus, and the restrictions imposed to contain it, in the coming months.

News >  Spokane

Lutz: Early actions have helped Spokane County manage COVID-19

UPDATED: Thu., May 7, 2020

Public health experts and epidemiologists, including Spokane County Health Officer Dr. Bob Lutz, knew that COVID-19 was on its way to the U.S. back when reports of a novel coronavirus surfaced in China in late December and early January. While Lutz believes that early warning gave local leaders enough time prepare, he says federal officials weren’t as on the ball.

News >  Spokane

Two more Spokane Veterans Home residents die from COVID-19

UPDATED: Wed., May 6, 2020

More than half of the residents at the Spokane Veterans Home have contracted COVID-19.

News >  Spokane

‘The unknown is what’s scary’: Spokane nurses, respiratory therapist describe challenges of COVID-19 care

UPDATED: Thu., May 7, 2020

Nurses and respiratory therapists spend the most time with COVID-19 patients in emergency departments and intensive care units. Local health care workers stepped into the pandemic head-on.

News >  Spokane

From shortages to furloughs, pandemic gives in-demand nursing profession a stress test

Wed., May 6, 2020

Nurses are on the front lines responding to a global pandemic; others are being furloughed and filing for unemployment. The shortages in Washington’s nursing workforce before 2020 are now showing their cracks.

News >  Spokane

County by county, Washington epidemiologists track earliest symptoms of COVID-19

Wed., May 6, 2020

State health officials and Gov. Jay Inslee are relying on myriad data points to determine when to lift the stay-home order or allow counties to proceed to the next phase of reopening the economy and society.

News >  Washington

State budget facing $7 billion hole from pandemic shutdown

UPDATED: Tue., May 5, 2020

The economic shutdown from the COVID-19 pandemic could blow a $7 billion hole in the state’s budget over the next three years, forcing a special session sometime in 2020.

News >  Spokane

Regional approach to reopening Washington takes shape as local Spokane elected officials push for fast-tracked plan

UPDATED: Mon., May 4, 2020

Gov. Jay Inslee’s phases to reopen Washington provided an outline for which businesses and activities will be allowed to operate and function in the coming months; some counties get to skip ahead a phase, leading to a regionalized approach.

News >  Washington

How Spokane and the Tri-Cities took different approaches to slowing virus’s spread in long-term care facilities

UPDATED: Mon., May 4, 2020

After the first case was reported in Kirkland in late February, care facilities elsewhere in Washington had a small window of time to prepare for the virus to reach their doors, tracking down testing kits and personal protective equipment and essentially going into lockdown mode. But that hasn’t stopped COVID-19 from spreading to 252 long-term care facilities in Washington.

News >  Spokane

Health care providers emphasize hospitals are safe, urge patients to seek needed care

UPDATED: Fri., May 1, 2020

Health and hospital officials encouraged Spokane County residents to seek medical care for emergencies, with local hospitals reporting lower than normal census numbers in emergency departments.

News >  Spokane

Fairgrounds testing site will close Friday, set to reopen on Monday

UPDATED: Thu., April 30, 2020

The COVID-19 testing site at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center will reopen on Monday, staffed by the Washington National Guard.

News >  Spokane

Health district delivers much-needed PPE to Spokane County long-term care facilities

UPDATED: Wed., April 29, 2020

Adult family homes in Spokane County will receive masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment from the health district this week.

News >  Spokane

Washington could reopen regionally, state health officials say

UPDATED: Tue., April 28, 2020

“I’m sure you’ll be hearing more about that in the days to come as we make some further decisions about that,” State Secretary of Health Dr. John Wiesman said told reporters Tuesday, noting that health departments around the state with lower case counts feel like they have the ability to manage COVID-19 in their districts.

News >  Spokane

Only 1 new COVID-19 case reported Monday in Spokane County

UPDATED: Mon., April 27, 2020

Spokane County reported one new COVID-19 case on Monday, continuing a a trend of declining cases.

News >  Spokane

How Prosser’s rural hospital is testing and treating COVID-19

Mon., April 27, 2020

More than 30 people have tested positive for COVID-19 at Prosser Memorial Hospital’s DIY drive-up screening, which a team of providers diligently maintains seven days a week.