Washington House votes to delay long-term care tax for 18 months Following widespread criticisms and voter pushback, Democrats in the Washington state House on Wednesday voted to delay the collection of a new payroll tax to fund a state-run, long-term care insurance program called WA Cares. Austin Jenkins
Covid cases show ‘signs of slowing’ in western Washington After several weeks of skyrocketing Covid infections, Washington state health officials say this latest surge – which is driven by the omicron variant and has shattered pandemic records – is showing indicators of a drop-off. Liz Brazile
Opinion: 5 steps we must take to vaccinate the world's vulnerable—and end the pandemic Three doctors present their proposal to get vaccines to everyone in the world. "We already have the resources, knowledge and systems," they write. Global leaders just have to make it happen. Edward Cliff
Inslee deploying 100 National Guard to help hospitals, orders pause on non-emergency procedures Following the lead of Oregon and other states, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday that he will deploy 100 members of the National Guard to assist hospitals struggling to respond to a spike in Covid-19 patients due to the highly-contagious omicron variant. Austin Jenkins
Where to get out of the dangerous cold around Seattle Freezing temperatures and possible snow are in the forecast for Seattle this weekend and next week. Some cities around the region will open severe weather shelters for people experiencing homelessness to escape the cold. Casey Martin
Covid cases quadruple in the Seattle area in a single day, where omicron dominates King County reported 2,879 new Covid cases on Thursday — the most new daily cases documented since the pandemic started. New cases of the disease more than quadrupled between Wednesday and Thursday in King County, which has seen a 169% increase in cases over the past week. Liz Brazile
People living in tents and RVs evicted from Green Lake Park in Seattle, days before Christmas This week the City of Seattle is clearing a homeless tent encampment at the park, plus the RVs that have been parked nearby for months. The removal comes less than a week before freezing temperatures are expected in Seattle. Casey Martin
Omicron is now the dominant Covid strain in the U.S., making up 73% of new infections Underscoring its high transmissibility, in a week, omicron went from a 12.6% share of the variants circulating in the U.S. to a dominant 73.2%, according to the CDC's latest estimates. The Associated Press
Omicron is spreading in King County. Health officials expect a 'rapid increase' over the holidays As the holidays approach and indoor gatherings increase, so does the risk of Covid spread. Officials are urging people to get vaccinated, wear masks, and avoid poorly ventilated spaces – especially as omicron begins to make its rounds. Signs point toward community spread of the strain being underway. Liz Brazile
'Bursting at the seams.’ WA hospitals feel the pinch of long-term care shortages Staffing shortages in places like skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities, along with complex evaluation and placement protocols, are driving a surge in long-term care patients at Washington state hospitals. Liz Brazile
