Arielle Dreher

All Stories

News >  Spokane

Fairgrounds COVID-19 screening site will close next week as providers open several locations for testing

UPDATED: Fri., April 24, 2020

Drive-up screening for COVID-19 at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center will close on May 1, as local health care providers are opening multiple testing sites throughout the county.

News >  Washington

After 100 virus cases and 1 death, Tyson plant in southeastern Washington closes

UPDATED: Thu., April 23, 2020

After more than 100 workers contracted COVID-19 and one worker died, Tyson announced that its Wallula plant would temporarily close, so all 1,400 employees can be tested.

News >  Spokane

State ramps up contact tracing forces in preparation for reopening

UPDATED: Wed., April 22, 2020

State health officials outlined key efforts they are taking to prepare a robust health response in the second phase of suppressing COVID-19 in Washington.

---

News >  Spokane

Two more COVID-19 deaths reported in Spokane County, including a Veterans Home resident

UPDATED: Tue., April 21, 2020

Two more people died in Spokane County due to COVID-19 bringing the county total number of deaths to 19.

News >  Spokane

New COVID-19 testing guidelines will be released, local officials say

UPDATED: Mon., April 20, 2020

The Spokane Regional Health District does not have any contaminated testing kits, officials confirmed, after the state health department recalled thousands of kits this weekend.

News >  Washington

More testing, contact tracing, supplies needed before state dials back social distancing

Sun., April 19, 2020

Following data and health officials’ guidance, Gov. Jay Inslee explained what he needs to see happen before easing some of the state’s mitigation efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

News >  Spokane

COVID-19 puts rural hospitals in Eastern Washington on brink of financial collapse

UPDATED: Mon., April 20, 2020

Rural hospitals worry that if the financial effects of COVID-19 are not hitting them now, they will in a few months, raising alarms about the financial sustainability of health care systems in the most rural parts of Washington.

News >  Spokane

Rapid testing site opens, local hospitals still have capacity to treat COVID-19, emergent health needs

UPDATED: Fri., April 17, 2020

Providence’s new rapid testing site in North Spokane saw its second day of operation Friday, and local hospital officials said they are encouraged by the decreasing case numbers although they encouraged people to continue adhering to social distancing measures.

News >  Spokane

Rapid COVID-19 testing in Spokane will give front-line workers, patients with referrals results in minutes

UPDATED: Thu., April 16, 2020

Providence announced rapid testing for COVID-19, which will be made available to first responders, health care workers and patients with doctor referrals during a virtual visit first.

News >  Spokane

COVID-19 rates aren’t higher in Spokane County communities of color. That may reflect testing inequities.

UPDATED: Thu., April 16, 2020

Spokane County’s COVID-19 infection rates among communities of color don’t show the disproportionality that Health Officer Dr. Bob Lutz expected.

News >  Spokane

Spokane will follow state to take ‘phased approach’ to loosening social distancing

UPDATED: Wed., April 15, 2020

Gov. Jay Inslee laid out what loosening mitigation efforts could look like but did not put an exact time or date on those plans. Spokane health officials plan to follow state guidance when it comes to adhering to the stay home order.

News >  Spokane

State health officials see ‘plateau’ in numbers, but warn of ‘new normal’ going forward

UPDATED: Tue., April 14, 2020

State health officials said that Washington’s COVID-19 numbers appear to be plateauing but warned of a ‘new normal’ until a vaccine or treatment become widespread.

News >  Spokane

Health officials follow federal disease expert Fauci amid weekend uproar

UPDATED: Mon., April 13, 2020

Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key national director and face of the federal COVID-19 response, is well-respected among local public health officials.

News >  Spokane

With 276 infections and 15 deaths, Spokane County health officer says social distancing is working

UPDATED: Mon., April 13, 2020

While the number of total confirmed infections has been increasing daily, Spokane County Health Officer Dr. Bob Lutz said the curve appears to be flattening. “I do believe that the physical distancing people are doing is making an impact,” he said.

News >  Spokane

‘We’re not quite there yet:’State COVID-19 response director addresses current efforts in Spokane

UPDATED: Fri., April 10, 2020

Vice Admiral Raquel Bono, who is managing the Washington health care system COVID-19 response, toured Spokane hospitals on Friday after she told reporters that widespread testing is a key component to the state re-opening.

News >  Spokane

Social distancing slows virus’ spread in Spokane County; 7 new cases, 1 death reported

UPDATED: Thu., April 9, 2020

Social distancing is having an impact on the spread of COVID-19, Spokane County Health Officer Dr. Bob Lutz said, based on the data he is looking at, but he warned that letting up on the brakes too quickly could lead to an increase in cases in the community.

News >  Spokane

‘Plenty of space’: Sacred Heart ready to take more COVID-19 cases should the need arise

UPDATED: Wed., April 8, 2020

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center has 80 intensive care unit beds it could use to treat an influx of COVID-19 patients, should the need arise.

News >  Spokane

12 more COVID-19 cases confirmed in Spokane County as officials re-emphasize distancing

UPDATED: Wed., April 8, 2020

Spokane County has 239 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 15 people still in the hospital receiving treatment.

News >  Spokane

Providence nurse explains how PPE works – and why health care workers need so much of it

UPDATED: Wed., April 8, 2020

Providence ICU nurse Christa Arguinchona walked reporters through exactly what putting on and taking off personal protective equipment safely looks like on Wednesday.

News >  Spokane

‘This virus could easily spring back’: Officials remain vigilant about virus, push resources outside Puget Sound

UPDATED: Tue., April 7, 2020

State health officials intend to target thousands of test kits to long-term care facilities statewide with confirmed cases of COVID-19.

News >  Spokane

Resident locked out of assisted-living home for two weeks due to stringent COVID-19 policies

Tue., April 7, 2020

With COVID-19 posing a legitimate threat to long-term care facilities and retirement communities, administrators have implemented stringent policies, but for one Spokane County man, this meant he was locked out of his apartment for two weeks.

News >  Spokane

COVID-19 cases continue steady climb in Eastern Washington

UPDATED: Mon., April 6, 2020

Spokane County has 222 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths from the virus. The most recent death was a man in his 90s, who died over the weekend.

News >  Washington

As state settles on guidelines about who would get care in worst-case scenario, disability advocates raise flags

Sun., April 5, 2020

Who gets to live – and who doesn’t? It’s a decision no physician ever wants to make. In the midst of a global pandemic, however, such unwelcome decisions may have to be made. To prepare, Washington, like, states across the country, is adopting standards to guide such life-and-death decisions.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County approaches 200 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 2 new deaths reported

UPDATED: Fri., April 3, 2020

Local health care providers are coordinating efforts to open an alternate care complex, which will include a site where individuals who have COVID-19 or COVID-like illness can isolate themselves if they cannot do so at their own homes.

News >  Spokane

Spokane hospitals staff up to prepare for an increase in COVID-19 cases

UPDATED: Thu., April 2, 2020

Both large hospital systems in Spokane, Providence and MultiCare, are shifting staff and bringing in more workers to help prepare to treat more COVID-19 patients.