Sponsor spotlight: Paktia Pharmacy now administering COVID-19 vaccines

Paktia Pharmacy is providing free COVID-19 vaccines to eligible patients in partnership with the U.S. government. Eligible patients can visit https://www.healthmart.com to make an appointment or call Paktia Pharmacy at 425-967-5375 “We are proud to help Edmonds fight COVID-19 and are here to help the most vulnerable and most at risk of suffering from COVID-19,”…

Community Transit offering customers free rides to get vaccination

Community Transit is now offering people free rides on the bus to get their COVID-19 vaccination. The free round-trip does not require customers provide any documents. They can simply state they are traveling to get the vaccine or returning from receiving it. The free ride can be used to travel to mass vaccination sites, a…

County leaders say COVID-19 case rates remain flat, are hopeful to stay in Phase 3

Snohomish County leaders said during a May 11 briefing that due to stable COVID-19 case rates they are hopeful the county will be able to remain in Phase 3 of the Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan when Gov. Jay Inslee’s statewide two-week pause on counties’ phase movement is expected to end next week….

Nearby option for COVID-19 vaccine: Shoreline Center

If you are looking for a nearby option for a COVID-19 vaccine, a reminder from our friends at Shoreline Area News that the UW Medicine North King County Vaccination Clinic in Shoreline provides walk-in vaccinations for Pfizer (age 16+) and Moderna (age 18+) first and second doses. Located in the auditorium at the Shoreline Center…

Starting May 10, over $10 million in grants available to help nonprofit community organizations

The Washington State Department of Commerce is partnering with ArtsFund to provide over $10 million in grants to help community organizations across the state that have been impacted by the pandemic. The Nonprofit Community Relief grant application portal opens Monday, May 10 for eligible Washington state organizations The grant program focuses on arts, culture, science and…

COVID briefing: ‘Sigh of relief’ as Snohomish County gets rollback reprieve

Snohomish County gets a reprieve. There is no rollback to Phase 2 COVID restrictions for the county; in fact, no rollbacks statewide.  That’s the news from Gov. Jay Inslee, who says all counties will stay where they are for the next two weeks. That means shopping, dining, outdoor recreation all stays where it is; we…

Advance appointments now optional at Snohomish County mass vaccination sites

Starting Wednesday, May 5, all mass vaccination sites operated by the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce will begin offering on-site registration for people who do not have a prior appointment. People may arrive at the sites during open hours to receive their vaccine even if they do not have an appointment. Vaccinations will be provided as…

Inslee announces two-week pause on phases

Gov. Jay Inslee Tuesday announced a two-week pause on movement in the Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan. Under the pause, every county will remain in its current phase. At the end of two weeks, each county will be re-evaluated. The decision was made in consultation with the Department of Health, and reflects current…

Downtown popup COVID testing sites are scams, Edmonds police say

The Edmonds police sent out a warning Wednesday regarding two curbside COVID test sites that have appeared in downtown Edmonds during the past few days, labeling them as “scams” involving potential identity theft. Edmonds police spokesperson Sgt. Josh McClure said police made the determination after officers spoke with workers staffing the pop-up sites at 5th…

County COVID briefing: As numbers continue to rise, return to Phase 2 likely next week

The weekly COVID media briefing from Snohomish County officials was marked by a growing concern over the county’s stubbornly rising numbers of case rates and hospitalizations, the two critical metrics used by Gov. Inslee’s office to determine which reopening phase will be operative. On March 11 Inslee rolled out the revamped Roadmap to Recovery program,…

Beware of ‘unusual’ COVID testing sites, health district says

We had inquiries from readers Monday asking about free COVID testing being offered near the Edmonds ferry terminal, as it appeared that proper testing protocols weren’t being followed. Turns out, the Snohomish Health District has also received questions about the operation and is investigating. “We have received a couple emails from folks about the Edmonds…

Small Business Administration reopens grant applications for shuttered venue operators

The U.S. Small Business Administration on April 26 will reopen the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application portal for operators of live venues, live performing arts organizations, museums and movie theatres, as well as live venue promoters, theatrical producers and talent representatives to apply for critical economic relief. “We recognize the urgency and need to get this program…

Inslee announces reauthorization of Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine in Washington

Gov. Jay Inslee on Saturday announced that the Western States Workgroup that includes Washington state has authorized resuming the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The announcement comes after the FDA and CDC also authorized the restart of the J&J COVID vaccine. The Western States Workgroup, comprised of vaccine experts from Washington, California, Oregon and Nevada,…

County taskforce to open mass vaccination site at Ash Way Park & Ride April 21

A new mass vaccination site is scheduled to open Wednesday, April 21, at the Ash Way Park & Ride, just off the 164th Street Southwest exit in South Snohomish County. This is the seventh mass vaccination site in the county operated by the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce. It is located at 16327 Ash Way, Lynnwood….

Coronavirus Chronicles: Edmonds singer pivots around COVID  

Dinner and a show are back on the menu, according to Edmonds resident Elizabeth Galafa, who is doing her best to return to a normal life after a year when singing on a public stage has been difficult if not impossible. Now, as things are beginning to open up, the singer is eager to show…

Everyone 16 and older in Washington state now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine

As of April 15, everyone 16 and older who wants a COVID-19 vaccine can receive one in Washington. The eligibility expansion marks the four-month anniversary of vaccine rollout in the state. Since mid-December, nearly 4.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across the state. More than 2.67 million people have received at least…

COVID-19 briefing: Snohomish County pauses adminstration of Johnson & Johnson vaccine

During the weekly Snohomish County briefing on COVID-19, County Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters announced Tuesday that effective immediately, the county is “putting a pause on the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.” The rationale, he said, comes from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration…

FEMA offering financial assistance for COVID-related funeral expenses

If you have lost a loved one to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing financial assistance for coronavirus-related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 202. The funds are provided under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. To apply,…

Scene in Edmonds: Waterfront Center hosts drive-thru COVID vaccine clinic

The cold, wind and Northwest drizzle could not keep them away. The cars lined up like clockwork at their scheduled time to get their Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine through the window of their car, administered by the able team from South County Fire & Rescue. We were aiming for 50 vaccines, but we delivered…

South County Fire offering COVID-19 vaccines in Lynnwood April 8

South County Fire, under the direction of the Snohomish Health District, will be providing COVID-19 vaccinations from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, April 8 at Northwest Life Church, 6510 188th St. S.W., Lynnwood. Registration is required here. The vaccine is the Johnson and Johnson single-dose, and it’s free with no insurance information needed. Those eligible include seniors…

Inslee announces vaccine eligibility expansion to all adults April 15

Responding to a recent surge in coronavirus cases statewide, Gov. Jay Inslee Wednesday announced that effective April 15, all Washingtonians over the age of 16 will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Over the past four months, since Washington began administering doses of the vaccination, the state has followed a tiered eligibility system —…