Joseph Thompson

Gov. Jay Inslee talks about schools reopening during a Tuesday news conference. (TVW)

Inslee offers school districts state-funded COVID testing

The “Learn to Return” plan is intended to speed school reopenings with an added layer of confidence.

Gov. Jay Inslee talks about schools reopening during a Tuesday news conference. (TVW)
Pfizer COVID-19 vials are taken out of cold storage before use on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County gets fewer first doses than usual this week

Most of the incoming supply is reserved for second shots, following a statewide policy.

Pfizer COVID-19 vials are taken out of cold storage before use on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Valentino Toro, right, watches as his father John catches up with him as they go sledding at Forest Park on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 in Everett, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Here comes the rain: Weekend’s snowfall will soon be gone

Cities and the county are asking everyone to clear storm drains ahead of potential urban flooding.

Valentino Toro, right, watches as his father John catches up with him as they go sledding at Forest Park on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 in Everett, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Sultan High School students line up, social distanced at one of the three temperature and wellness check station set up in the gym before entering the school for classes on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 in Sultan, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Local report finds few COVID cases spread through classrooms

Of 285 COVID cases linked to Snohomish County schools since fall, 53 were traced to in-school transmission.

Sultan High School students line up, social distanced at one of the three temperature and wellness check station set up in the gym before entering the school for classes on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 in Sultan, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

The county’s vaccine supply is growing, but more is needed

A new appointment system for county sites, which includes a waitlist for shots, is set to debut this week.

Alicia Ramos gets her first shot of the Modern COVID-19 vaccine from Pharmacy Director Jeremy Thompson at QFC on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Edmonds, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Inslee: We have vaccine capacity, we just need the doses

Despite continued frustration from those seeking a shot, the state is making progress, he said.

Alicia Ramos gets her first shot of the Modern COVID-19 vaccine from Pharmacy Director Jeremy Thompson at QFC on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Edmonds, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Snohomish County’s boosted vaccine supply still isn’t enough

The county’s drive-thru clinics could adminster 50,000 shots a week. This week, they’re getting 3,500.

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, where a man with the first case of coronavirus in the United States is being treated on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, in Everett, Wash. Health officials said Tuesday that the man returned to the Seattle area in the middle of last week after traveling to the Wuhan area, where the outbreak began. The man, identified only as a Snohomish County resident is in his 30s, was not considered a threat to medical staff or the public, health officials said. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald via AP)

Providence gave special vaccine access to donors, volunteers

The Everett hospital has apologized for sending vaccination invites to more than 200 big-money donors.

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, where a man with the first case of coronavirus in the United States is being treated on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, in Everett, Wash. Health officials said Tuesday that the man returned to the Seattle area in the middle of last week after traveling to the Wuhan area, where the outbreak began. The man, identified only as a Snohomish County resident is in his 30s, was not considered a threat to medical staff or the public, health officials said. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald via AP)

We’ve got lots of vaccination capacity, but too few doses

The county set up drive-thru clinics quickly. But it’s still difficult to make an appointment.

People are given the first of two doses of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, at a one-day vaccination clinic set up in an Amazon.com facility in Seattle and operated by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Still no easy way to get vaccine, but that could change soon

With low supply and high demand, appointments are filled within hours as Snohomish County awaits more doses.

People are given the first of two doses of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, at a one-day vaccination clinic set up in an Amazon.com facility in Seattle and operated by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
A pharmacist prepares a syringe of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at Queen Anne Healthcare, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Seattle. Pfizer has committed to supply up to 40 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine this year to a World Health Organization-backed effort to get affordable vaccines to 92 poor and middle-income countries. The deal announced Friday, Jan. 22 will supply the shots to the program known as COVAX.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Short on doses, county’s drive-thru vaccinations are on pause

Appointments won’t be accepted again until new shipments arrive — next week at the soonest.

A pharmacist prepares a syringe of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at Queen Anne Healthcare, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Seattle. Pfizer has committed to supply up to 40 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine this year to a World Health Organization-backed effort to get affordable vaccines to 92 poor and middle-income countries. The deal announced Friday, Jan. 22 will supply the shots to the program known as COVAX.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Syringes are filled with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during the first Phase 2 vaccination for Richmond and Henrico, Va., workers in high-risk professions during a Henrico County Health Department event at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. ( Joe Mahoney/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)

Scarcity of vaccine doses slows rollout in Snohomish County

Despite qualifying for the vaccine, people over age 65 may have to wait weeks for a shot.

Syringes are filled with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during the first Phase 2 vaccination for Richmond and Henrico, Va., workers in high-risk professions during a Henrico County Health Department event at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. ( Joe Mahoney/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)
Dr. Darryl Keffer, a respiratory therapist. (Kevin Clark/The Herald)

Respiratory therapist keeps patients breathing through COVID

Darryl Keffer has been treating people sick with coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic.

Dr. Darryl Keffer, a respiratory therapist. (Kevin Clark/The Herald)
A discarded face mask lies on the sidewalk across the street from Everett High School last December. (Sue Misao / The Herald)

3 local school districts ask for vaccines for all staff ASAP

Edmonds, Everett and Mukilteo superintendants hope to reopen classrooms sooner. The state says it doesn’t have enough doses.

A discarded face mask lies on the sidewalk across the street from Everett High School last December. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
People line up for COVID-19 vaccinations at Paine Field in Everett. (Snohomish County Emergency Coordination Center)

Drive-thru vaccination clinics open in Everett and Lynnwood

More sites are planned as Snohomish County gets closer to broadening who is eligible for a shot.

People line up for COVID-19 vaccinations at Paine Field in Everett. (Snohomish County Emergency Coordination Center)
FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2021, file photo syringes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine sit in a tray in a vaccination room at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif. Taking a new direction to speed release of coronavirus vaccines, President-elect Joe Biden's office said Friday he would end the current practice of holding back vaccine doses to guarantee that people who get their first shot can also get a required second inoculation three weeks later. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

A lot more people will soon be eligible for COVID vaccine

More than 1 million statewide are included in Phase 1B, which could start in a few weeks.

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2021, file photo syringes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine sit in a tray in a vaccination room at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif. Taking a new direction to speed release of coronavirus vaccines, President-elect Joe Biden's office said Friday he would end the current practice of holding back vaccine doses to guarantee that people who get their first shot can also get a required second inoculation three weeks later. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Dr. George Diaz is vaccinated at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett on Friday. (Providence) 20201218

11,000 in county have received first shot of COVID vaccine

The health district is working to speed the vaccination process and get more shots into arms.

Dr. George Diaz is vaccinated at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett on Friday. (Providence) 20201218
A sign along Colby Ave. in Everett seen this summer near Providence Regional Medical Center. (Sue Misao / Herald file)

Health care workers find silver linings in the year of COVID

“Every supportive sign and all the smiling eyes above the masks remind us we are not alone.”

A sign along Colby Ave. in Everett seen this summer near Providence Regional Medical Center. (Sue Misao / Herald file)

Edmonds eases penalties for driving with a suspended license

Some offenders will now receive a ticket instead of possible jail time.

Applications open for seat on Monroe School Board

Director Shawn Anderson moved to Texas. Now, the board has 90 days to replace him.