Immunity from vaccination and prior infection is helping control the spread of COVID-19, but it isn’t enough to counteract behavior choices, according to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH).
In a situation report released Thursday, officials said at the beginning of April about 26.8% of Washington’s population was immune from COVID-19 – about 15% of which is from vaccination. The percent of people immune by vaccination surpassed those immune by prior infection (about 11%) for the first time at the end of March.
However, even with increased vaccination, the spread of COVID-19 remains too high to reduce case and hospital admissions rates, according to DOH. Read more
Nearly two dozen dogs are the first known animals in Washington state to show evidence of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA).
The dogs were sampled as part of the COVID-19 and Pets Study that the University of Washington (UW) started in early 2020 to examine pets from households where humans have tested positive for COVID-19. Read more
Drivers could see a sharp toll rate increase for State Route 520 Bridge by this summer as the state works to mitigate reduced revenues that began with the coronavirus pandemic.
The Washington State Transportation Commission began discussing new toll rates, which could include a 120-day emergency rate, followed by a permanent rate. To meet upcoming financial and legal obligations, toll rates could increase an estimated 25% to 35%. Read more
The Kraken Bar & Lounge, a dive bar and punk and metal music venue in Seattle's University District, has filed a $3.5 million lawsuit against the Seattle Kraken NHL team over trademark infringement and alleged the hockey team is damaging the bar's name and brand.
The bar's owners are trying to prevent the hockey team from opening The Kraken Bar & Grill, a restaurant set to open at the team's training facility in Northgate as soon as early September.
The music venue owners say that they have already fielded questions about whether it is a sports bar, and they fear that bands and their fans will have trouble finding the bar’s online presence. Read more
The Sealife Response Rehab and Research (SR3) team celebrated the grand opening of their new dedicated marine wildlife hospital in Des Moines this week.
The new Sealife Rescue Center is on the Des Moines waterfront, with outdoor tanks to accommodate various animals, and a medical suite inside for surgeries and X-rays.
SR3 believes this to be the first dedicated facility of its kind in the Northwest, and hopes to expand on the existing capabilities of general wildlife rescues. Read more
Also see: Seattle local forecast
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