Arielle Dreher

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News >  Spokane

3 COVID-19 cases reported among employees of Spokane retirement community

UPDATED: Thu., April 2, 2020

A resident of a Cheney nursing home was hospitalized this week, and three employees at a retirement community in Spokane have tested positive for COVID-19.

News >  Spokane

17 new COVID-19 cases reported in Spokane County as screening site reopens, more testing materials made available

UPDATED: Thu., April 2, 2020

The screening at the fairgrounds in Spokane County reopened on Thursday morning, and health officials say they have access to more testing materials.

News >  Spokane

Only 3.9% of COVID-19 tests in Spokane County are positive, but that rate is likely to rise

UPDATED: Wed., April 1, 2020

Spokane County has a low percentage of residents who have tested positive for COVID-19, but this will likely change with more testing in the coming days.

News >  Spokane

5th death, 20 new cases of COVID-19 in Spokane County; testing site to reopen Thursday

UPDATED: Wed., April 1, 2020

The drive-up COVID-19 screening site will reopen in a covered building at the Fairgrounds on Thursday.

News >  Washington

COVID-19 increasing in Washington, including ‘very concerning’ outbreaks in 108 long-term care facilities

UPDATED: Tue., March 31, 2020

COVID-19 is spreading at an increasing rate in Washington and has reached 108 long-term care facilities that house those who appear most vulnerable to the disease, State Health Officer Kathy Lofy told reporters Tuesday.

News >  Spokane

Limited COVID-19 testing kits limit Eastern Washington providers, long-term care facilities

Tue., March 31, 2020

From health districts to retirement communities, the lack of testing kits leaves both health officials and people with symptoms few options when looking for COVID-19 tests.

News >  Spokane

Eastern Washington COVID-19 cases climb; 4 deaths due to the virus reported in Spokane County

UPDATED: Mon., March 30, 2020

Four Spokane County residents have died of COVID-19, with 133 positive cases confirmed so far. Health officials expect these numbers to continue to increase in the coming days.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County confirms first COVID-19 death

UPDATED: Sat., March 28, 2020

Spokane County reported its first COVID-19 death Friday evening after the number of confirmed cases rose to 86 earlier in the day.

News >  Spokane

Riverview skilled nursing unit set to close due to ‘projected long-term catastrophic event’ of COVID-19

UPDATED: Thu., March 26, 2020

The skilled nursing unit at Riverview Retirement Community will close by June 1, due to long-term concerns about COVID-19.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County confirms a dozen more COVID-19 cases; Washington case count grows

UPDATED: Thu., March 26, 2020

As Washington state residents hunker down for two weeks, the governor warned that may not be enough time, as the state confirmed more than 600 cases in one day.

News >  Spokane

Sacred Heart’s special pathogens unit may be used for overflow after treating 4 cruise passengers

UPDATED: Tue., March 24, 2020

The special pathogens unit at Sacred Heart Medical Center was used to treat four passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship; now it will be used as overflow to treat COVID-19 patients.

News >  Spokane

Spokane leaders urge residents to stay home, as Spokane County confirms 33 COVID-19 cases

UPDATED: Tue., March 24, 2020

With a statewide stay-home order, Spokane leaders urged residents to follow it, as efforts to flatten the curve of COVID-19 will take weeks.

News >  Spokane

More than 2,000 COVID-19 cases reported statewide, 3 Spokane County residents hospitalized

UPDATED: Tue., March 24, 2020

There are now 29 COVID-19 cases reported in Spokane County, with three residents hospitalized due to the virus.

News >  Spokane

‘Our lives will be changing’: Prolonged disruption likely as coronavirus spreads in Eastern Washington

Sun., March 22, 2020

Hospitals, both urban and rural, are preparing for a surge of COVID-19 cases and patients in the community, as health officials and experts warn the virus could be with us for several months.

News >  Washington

Spokane County declares public health emergency, reports 2 new COVID-19 cases; Stevens County confirms 1st

UPDATED: Fri., March 20, 2020

Health officials announced the first positive test for COVID-19 in a Stevens County resident on Friday.

News >  Spokane

Paid family, sick leave program was already backed up several weeks – then coronavirus hit

Fri., March 20, 2020

Nearly three months into the new Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave program, the Employment Security Department is overrun with applications, leading to up to 10 weeks in processing time.

News >  Spokane

‘We are always, always on guard’: For those with underlying health conditions, distancing is matter of life or death

Thu., March 19, 2020

Staying indoors in the midst of a global pandemic is literally a matter of life or death for people with underlying health conditions. Helen Black, who has stage four breast cancer and a son with underlying health conditions, knows the quarantine drill well and hopes others will do their part.

News >  Spokane

Grand Princess passengers return home to Spokane healthy, grateful – and under a new quarantine

UPDATED: Wed., March 18, 2020

After more than a week of quarantine onboard the Grand Princess cruise ship and then at an air base in San Diego, a local couple finally made it home on Tuesday.

News >  Washington

Keeping it local: Apprenticeship program helps Inchelium clinic keep, promote staff

Wed., March 18, 2020

The Lake Roosevelt Community Health Center uses an apprenticeship program to help promote and keep their employees and community members in their quest to become medical and dental assistants.

News >  Washington

All 50 states report confirmed COVID-19 cases as Washington eclipses 1,000; North Idaho reports no positives

UPDATED: Wed., March 18, 2020

The state Department of Health confirmed Spokane County’s fourth case of novel coronavirus Tuesday afternoon as Washington’s number of overall confirmed cases eclipsed 1,000 and deaths due to the disease reached 52.

News >  Spokane

Spokane health providers tighten policies, cancel elective surgeries in anticipation for more COVID-19 cases; people urged to ‘stay home’

UPDATED: Mon., March 16, 2020

Despite local health officials encouraging providers to test more residents for COVID-19, hospitals and health care systems in Spokane acknowledged their limited capacity to do so, due to national shortages.

News >  Spokane

Keeping our health care system strong: How individual action can help prepare the community for COVID-19

Sun., March 15, 2020

It’s a unique moment in history, when communities are dependent on one another to not transmit a disease.

News >  Spokane

‘It’s a real mental exercise to keep your sanity’: Spokane couple remains under quarantine after leaving cruise ship

UPDATED: Sat., March 14, 2020

A Spokane couple aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship finally got off the boat Thursday, March 12, and have been quarantined at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego since then.

News >  Spokane

‘Do it now’: Assisted living and nursing facilities work to protect residents

Sat., March 14, 2020

State and federal officials have implemented policies protecting people at risk for severe illness should they get COVID-19, including nursing home and assisted living facility residents.

News >  Spokane

Inslee closes all schools starting March 17 through April 24

UPDATED: Fri., March 13, 2020

Gov. Jay Inslee has ordered all public and private schools in districts across the state of Washington closed, starting on Tuesday, March 17 through April 24.