Coronavirus outbreak

Comment: As hospitals are swamped, how to fairly ration care?

Reserving care for the most likely to survive leaves difficulties in how doctors, others make that call.

on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Drive-up COVID testing line clogs north Everett neighborhood

City officials are looking to relocate a test site on Wetmore Avenue as demand soars amid an omicron-fueled surge.

on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Comment: Food trucks offer a safer dining option during covid

Long opposed by other restaurants, food trucks continue to gain acceptance and favor from diners.

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers (Snohomish County)

On cusp of record surge, Snohomish County exec gets COVID

The county’s health officer suspects up to 5% of residents have contracted the virus in the past two weeks.

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers (Snohomish County)

Comment: 1918 flu trying to tell us something about omicron

As the flu surged in its second year then, fatigue and removal of mitigation measures made things worse.

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. (Sue Misao / The Herald) 20220105

Providence pauses non-emergency procedures and visitation

In the past week, the Everett hospital’s two campuses have seen in-patient numbers more than double.

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. (Sue Misao / The Herald) 20220105
Steve Hobbs, who was sworn in as Washington Secretary of State, Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., poses in front of photos of the 15 people who previously held his office. Hobbs, a former state senator from Lake Stevens, Wash., is the first person of color to head the office and the first Democrat to serve as Secretary in more than 50 years. He replaces Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman, who resigned to accept an election security job in the Biden administration. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Washington’s new secretary of state mandates vaccines

Steve Hobbs of Lake Stevens has told his some 300 staff to get vaccinated or face losing their jobs.

Steve Hobbs, who was sworn in as Washington Secretary of State, Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., poses in front of photos of the 15 people who previously held his office. Hobbs, a former state senator from Lake Stevens, Wash., is the first person of color to head the office and the first Democrat to serve as Secretary in more than 50 years. He replaces Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman, who resigned to accept an election security job in the Biden administration. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Comment: Use testing to head off a return to virtual learning

If theaters can remain open in the face of surging omicron cases, so should classrooms.

FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2020, file photo, University of Washington research coordinator Rhoshni Prabhu holds up a swab after testing a passenger at a free COVID testing site in Seattle. Deaths per day from the coronavirus in the U.S. are on the rise again, just as health experts had feared, and cases are climbing in nearly every single state. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

High COVID rate causes UW medicine to limit testing

Only people with symptoms or known exposures will be given appointments.

FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2020, file photo, University of Washington research coordinator Rhoshni Prabhu holds up a swab after testing a passenger at a free COVID testing site in Seattle. Deaths per day from the coronavirus in the U.S. are on the rise again, just as health experts had feared, and cases are climbing in nearly every single state. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
The Snohomish Health District building in Everett. (Sue Misao / The Herald)

Snohomish County reports record spike in COVID-19 cases

The surge is fueled by omicron. Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters expects numbers to increase from here.

The Snohomish Health District building in Everett. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
FILE - Travelers wear masks as they wait in a line for a TSA security check, Dec. 10, 2021, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle. President Joe Biden on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, will sign an executive order aimed at saving Americans time and frustration when seeking a broad array of federal services, like renewing passports, applying for Social Security benefits and getting aid after natural disasters. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Record number of COVID-19 infections reported in King County

More and more fully vaccinated people are testing positive for the virus.

FILE - Travelers wear masks as they wait in a line for a TSA security check, Dec. 10, 2021, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle. President Joe Biden on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, will sign an executive order aimed at saving Americans time and frustration when seeking a broad array of federal services, like renewing passports, applying for Social Security benefits and getting aid after natural disasters. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Comment: New covid drug may do more harm than good

Molnupiravir wears down the virus by encouraging weaker mutations. But that’s a gamble that could backfire.

Community Transit is looking to hire 100 new employees this year. (Lizz Giordano / The Herald)

Community Transit vaccine holdouts face a ticking clock

Dozens of workers at Snohomish County’s public transit agency declined a COVID vaccine, in spite of a Jan. 1 deadline.

Community Transit is looking to hire 100 new employees this year. (Lizz Giordano / The Herald)

Comment: Making access easier key to kids’ covid vaccination

A Western Washington partnership is working to bring vaccines to spots where families are gathering.

Comment: Vaccine maker must do more to improve global supply

Previously, Moderna focused on supplying wealthier nations. A pledge to Africa is only a start.

Dulce Chavez talks with Gunard Hulskamp during his release after 236 days in-patient battling COVID-19  Saturday morning in Everett on December 18, 2021.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Everett COVID survivor comes home, his sense of humor still intact

Even on a ventilator, Gunard Hulskamp never stopped joking. His story is a miracle, his family says.

Dulce Chavez talks with Gunard Hulskamp during his release after 236 days in-patient battling COVID-19  Saturday morning in Everett on December 18, 2021.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2019, file photo, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaks at a news conference in Seattle. Washington state sued Johnson & Johnson on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, claiming the company was negligent when it used deceptive marketing to say the drugs were effective for treating pain and were unlikely to cause addiction. The lawsuit filed Thursday says the company that supplies raw materials used to make opiates drove the pharmaceutical industry to recklessly expand the production of the drugs. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

State attorney general tests positive for COVID-19

Bob Ferguson said via Twitter on Thursday that he had tested positive and was isolating at home.

FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2019, file photo, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaks at a news conference in Seattle. Washington state sued Johnson & Johnson on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, claiming the company was negligent when it used deceptive marketing to say the drugs were effective for treating pain and were unlikely to cause addiction. The lawsuit filed Thursday says the company that supplies raw materials used to make opiates drove the pharmaceutical industry to recklessly expand the production of the drugs. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Stenczie Morgan with Maxim Healthcare Services sets up one of the four vaccination stations at the Angel of the Winds Area vaccination site on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

As Omicron spreads, Inslee says state will open vaccination sites

Meanwhile, hospitals are full. COVID is a reason. Hundreds of patients need long-term care and there’s nowhere to send them.

Stenczie Morgan with Maxim Healthcare Services sets up one of the four vaccination stations at the Angel of the Winds Area vaccination site on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Comment: Dear Republicans, Trump wants you to get vaccinated

The former president has been consistent in his messaging that the covid vaccine is safe and effective.

Comment: Another chance to get covid lockdown right

Sourdough or no, the only thing that really matters is making sure we and our families get through it.