Arielle Dreher

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News >  Health

‘We have a math problem’: With omicron looming, Washington hospitals enter winter already near capacity

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 23, 2021

Health officials in Washington are worried the state’s nearly full hospitals could be hit even harder because of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

News >  Health

Another pandemic holiday: Where to find testing, boosters in Spokane before gathering

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 22, 2021

The second pandemic holiday season is upon us.

News >  Health

‘Brightening their day’: Local K9 teams bolster holiday cheer at Sacred Heart Medical Center

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 22, 2021

Christmas came early at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center on Wednesday when some four-legged friends helped deliver toys to children and much-needed relief to staff.

News >  Health

Omicron infections balloon from 10 to 400 in Washington

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 21, 2021

The omicron variant of coronavirus continues to spread in Washington.

News

Pediatrician returns to Kellogg clinic for first time in decades

Tue., Dec. 21, 2021

After more than two decades, babies, children and teens in the Silver Valley will have access to a pediatrician.

News

Spokane COVID-19 community testing sites adjust hours for holidays

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 21, 2021

One of the two mass COVID testing sites in Spokane County will be open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

News

North Idaho no longer in crisis standards of care

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 20, 2021

North Idaho is out of crisis standards of care after nearly four months.

News >  Health

Experts answer your questions on vaccine side effects, omicron and more COVID-19 hot topics

Sun., Dec. 19, 2021

Nearly two years into the pandemic, the end is still not in sight.

News >  Education

Washington has new safety guidelines for ‘high-contact’ sports after wrestling tournaments led to 200 COVID-19 cases

UPDATED: Sat., Dec. 18, 2021

Certain sports in Washington are subject to new safety guidelines after a massive COVID-19 outbreak at four high school wrestling tournaments led to some 200 cases of the virus.

News >  Health

High school wrestling tournaments lead to large COVID-19 outbreak, including some omicron cases

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 17, 2021

The omicron variant is blamed in part on a COVID-19 outbreak that hit four high school wrestling tournaments earlier this month, and health officials suspect spread of the new variant is inevitable.

News >  Health

Ten omicron cases confirmed in Washington state so far

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 15, 2021

Ten omicron cases have been confirmed in four counties in Western Washington, according to the state health department’s latest report.

News >  Health

One year after first vaccines, 800,000 Americans have died since COVID-19 pandemic started

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 14, 2021

The country hit a sobering mark on Tuesday: 800,000 deaths due to COVID-19 reported in the United States since the pandemic began.

News

Hospital capacity remains tight as winter closes in

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 13, 2021

Hospitals in Washington are struggling to discharge patients who no longer need acute hospital care but have nowhere else to go.

News

Spokane Regional Health District budget leads to layoffs, reorganization

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 13, 2021

Six jobs were eliminated in next year’s Spokane Regional Health District budget, including two held by veteran employees who were laid off last week.

News

Two addiction treatment programs open to new patients in North Idaho

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 13, 2021

Two new addiction treatment clinics for people are now open in North Idaho, one in Sandpoint and one in Kellogg, thanks to a state-funded grant.

News >  Health

Pfizer coronavirus booster shots approved for 16- and 17-year-olds

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 9, 2021

The Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization to Pfizer booster doses for 16 -and 17-year-olds if they are past the six-month point of their second dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

News >  Health

Unvaccinated people still make up the majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations at Providence

Thu., Dec. 9, 2021

Most people hospitalized with COVID-19 at Providence continue to be the unvaccinated.

News

The Spokane Board of Health is going to look different in the new year, and Thursday is the deadline to apply for a seat

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 9, 2021

If you want to be on the local board of health now that community members are a required part of its makeup, Thursday is the last day to apply for a seat.

News >  Health

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations continue steady decline in Spokane area

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 9, 2021

The COVID-19 case rate and weekly hospitalizations continue to decline in Spokane County, data from the health district show.

News

Omicron variant is in Washington state, details of cases unknown

Tue., Dec. 7, 2021

The omicron variant landed in Washington state over the weekend in people from three different counties in the Puget Sound area.

News >  Military

‘Veterans here are tired of being guinea pigs’: After more than a year, new health record system still causing problems at Spokane VA hospital

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 7, 2021

In more than 40 interviews with The Spokesman-Review, veterans and current and former VA employees described a system that slows treatment and threatens patient safety more than a year after a transition VA officials described as “flawless.”

News >  Health

All international travelers will have to show negative COVID-19 test results from day before flight to enter U.S.

UPDATED: Sun., Dec. 5, 2021

Starting Monday, all travelers entering the United States will have to show a negative COVID test from the day before their flight in order to get into the country.

News >  Health

As omicron makes its West Coast debut, one-third of Washington state’s population remains vulnerable

UPDATED: Sun., Dec. 5, 2021

The new omicron variant of coronavirus was detected in California on Wednesday, and health officials say it’s only a matter of time before it’s detected in Washington.

News

With Omicron on the way, ‘boosters are what’s up’

Tue., Nov. 30, 2021

The latest variant of COVID-19, called omicron, has not been detected in the United States yet, but health officials expect it will be soon.

News >  Health

As opposition grows, Washington’s long-term care tax to see fixes in Legislature this session

Mon., Nov. 29, 2021

The program requires workers to pay 0.58% of their wages into the fund beginning Jan. 1. But concerns, particularly from those who work in Washington but live elsewhere, may force the Legislature to make changes this session.