Delta Fuels Another 48% Increase In King County COVID Cases

Case counts continued to increase in King County over the last week as hospitalization rates trended upward. Here are a few things to know.

Update: Hospital Capacity In Seattle Area

Updated federal data shows how many hospital beds are currently filled in King County and across WA.

Delta Drives 'Sharp Increase' In WA COVID Cases, Hospitalizations

Washington is currently seeing 1,500 cases on average each day, and hospitals are reporting their highest occupancy rates this year.

Washington Hospitals 'Very Full' As COVID-19 Delta Cases Rise

State data shows that nearly 700 residents are hospitalized, as hospitals are pushing for required vaccinations for health workers.

COVID Cases Rise 63% In King County, But Hospitalizations Stable

While a delta-driven surge continues in King County, hospitalization rates are stable and no new deaths were reported in the last week.

Vaccination Rates Must Improve To Control Delta Surge In WA: DOH

With cases rising and the more infectious delta variant now dominant across Washington, officials say more people need to get vaccinated.

13 Washington Hospitals Named Best In State: U.S. News

While ranking the best hospitals in the nation, new rankings from U.S. News also highlight the best hospitals by region and specialty.

Health Officer Recommends Masking As Delta Surges In King County

Driven by more infectious variants, case counts and hospitalizations are again on the rise in King County after two months of decline.

Candidate Profile: Gwendolyn Fullerton For Bonney Lake Council

Gwendolyn Fullerton shares with Patch why she should be elected to represent the people of Bonney Lake.

UW Medicine Seeks COVID Patients For New Treatment Study

UW researchers are looking for people who recently tested positive for COVID-19 to participate in a clinical trial for potential treatments.

Washington Launches New Vaccination Initiative To Boost Rates

The Power of Providers initiative asks health care providers to reach out to patients their patients directly about getting a COVID-19 shot.

Washington Overdose Deaths Are Nearing Record Levels This Year

More than 400 Washingtonians died of overdoses in the first three months of 2021, and nearly half were linked to fentanyl.

Planet Fitness Awards $5,000 Scholarship to Centralia Teen

Recent Rochester High graduate is one of 30 scholarship winners nationwide selected for her commitment to promoting kindness

Undervaccinated WA Counties Could See COVID Surge

Undervaccinated parts of the country are most at risk for experiencing another surge in coronavirus cases as the Delta variant spreads.

Washington Enacts New Air Quality Protections For Workers

With wildfire season well underway, the new emergency rules require employers to act when air quality reaches dangerous thresholds.

Spike In WA Shellfish Infections Linked To High Heat, Low Tides

Washington has already seen the most vibriosis cases ever recorded in July. Infections are common from eating raw or undercooked oysters.

Washington Urged To Prepare For Wildfire Smoke: Here's How

Millions are already suffering under smoky skies, and now's the time for WA to prepare, warns the state Department of Emergency Management.

UW Studying Potential COVID-19 Vaccine Booster

A UW Medicine trial will have previously-vaccinated patients taking the J&J shot to see if it prolongs immunity.

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Expected Over Washington, Starting Friday

Smoke from wildfires in British Columbia is expected to drift overhead in Washington, but officials expect minimal air quality impacts.

Emergency Room Visits Surged In King County During Record Heat

While the recent heat wave was historic, King County's top health official said people should prepare for extremes to become the new normal.

Washington Celebrates Reopening Day As Most Restrictions Lift

Gov. Jay Inslee embarked on a "Washington Ready" tour Wednesday, speaking in Tacoma and Spokane ahead of planned stops in Seattle Thursday.

Inslee Lifts Capacity Cap For Some Washington Cooling Centers

The governor lifted pandemic capacity limits for eligible cooling centers, allowing them to welcome more people during the record heat wave.

Seattle Opens More Cooling Centers, Emergency Heat Shelters

Seattle is adding more cooling centers and emergency shelter options for those who need to escape the dangerous heat ahead.

29 Seattle Pools, Beaches And Spray Parks Are Open This Weekend

A variety of pools, beaches, spray parks and libraries are open this weekend to help Seattleites cool off amid a record-breaking heat wave.

WA DOH: More Vaccination Necessary To Contain Pandemic

Case counts and hospital admissions are on the decline, but state health leaders are concerned the vaccination rate isn't keeping pace.

Failure At WA Chlorine Plant May Force Some To Conserve Water

The state says drinking water will remain clean and safe, but some towns may have to ask residents to limit water use.

King County's Daily COVID Counts Fall To Double Digits

New COVID-19 cases have declined 81 percent since late April, with hospitalizations falling by three-quarters.

'Murder Hornet' Found Near Seattle Is First Found In US This Year

Scientists have found a dead Asian giant hornet north of Seattle, which they suspect is unrelated to last year's hornet sightings.

King County Hits 70% Vaccination Target; Mask Mandate Ending Soon

King County is the largest county in the nation with more than 70 percent of its residents 16 and older fully vaccinated.

'I Got Lucky': $250K Vaccine Lottery Winner Claims Prize

Lottery officials on Thursday released a statement from the man who won Washington's first $250,000 prize for vaccinated residents.

When Washington Reopens, Some Restrictions Will Remain: Inslee

Washington has committed to fully reopening by the end of the month or earlier, but some familiar requirements will be sticking around.

Seattle Is America's Most Vaccinated Major City, Mayor Says

Seattle is the first large city in the U.S. to fully vaccinate 70 percent of residents 12 and older, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced Wednesday.

New Modeling Shows Vaccination Is Shrinking Case Counts

COVID-19 transmission is on the decline, but the DOH says the vaccination rate will still need to increase in order to end the pandemic.

500 Days Of COVID: As Pandemic Wanes, Health Leaders Look Back

Friday marked the 500th day of the pandemic response in Washington, and health leaders are using the day to reflect on all that's changed.

Looking To Escape Wildfire Smoke In WA This Year? A New Tool Could Help

Less than a year after Puget Sound's last major bout of wildfire smoke, the state Department of Ecology has a new tool in its toolbelt.

23 Suspected Norovirus Cases Linked To Shoreline Habit Burger

Public health officials said six unrelated parties fell ill after visiting a Shoreline restaurant between May 21 and May 24.

'Care-A-Van' Brings Vaccines To Communities Struggling With COVID

A new program from the Washington State Department of Health is working to get more vaccines to the communities that need them most.

Warm, Sunny Days Ahead Following Hot Memorial Day

Sea-Tac Airport recorded a high of 80.1° Monday, and while it won't be that hot the next few days, it will remain pleasant through midweek.

Seattle Will Close Most City-Run Mass Vaccination Sites In June

Citing high vaccination rates, which outpace much of the state, Seattle will wind down most of its mass vaccination sites next month.

As Weather Heats Up, Coast Guard Stresses Water Safety

While it is getting warmer out, the water is still cold and much more dangerous than it looks.