News

As of December 16 at midnight, providers in Washington state had reported giving a total of 1,159 COVID-19 vaccine doses to high-risk health workers. Vaccination began this week for Phase 1A groups, which include frontline health workers and long-term care residents and staff. 

The Washington State Department of Health anticipates receiving tens of thousands more doses of COVID-19 vaccine later this week, as vaccinations continue for frontline health workers and long-term care residents and staff across the state.

 El Departamento de Salud del Estado de Washington (DOH, por su sigla en inglés) prevé que recibirá cientos de miles de dosis más de la vacuna contra la COVID-19 esta semana, mientras continúa la vacunación de los trabajadores de salud de primera línea y de los residentes y el personal de centros

Gov. Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal today announced an update in the metrics used to inform local school district decisions for in-person learning. They also announced $3 million from set aside funds to be distributed to implement health and safety protocols. The update to the school health and safety toolkit comes after recent data showed limited COVID-19 transmission in school environments when state health and safety protocols are implemented.

Gov. Jay Inslee issued a proclamation today prohibiting unapproved transportation of individuals to state correctional facilities.

Starting today, The Washington State Department of Health will include antigen-positive COVID-19 cases in the COVID-19 Data Dashboard and the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Dashboard.

As the first COVID-19 vaccinations begin this week, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is reminding people that it is very important to continue taking measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The initial distribution of vaccine is a major step forward.

 A partir de hoy, el Departamento de Salud del Estado de Washington (DOH, por su sigla en inglés) incluirá los casos de COVID-19 determinados por pruebas de antígenos positivas en el registro de datos sobre la COVID-19 (solo en inglés) y en el registro de evaluación de riesgos sobre la COVID-19 (

Al 16 de diciembre a la medianoche, los proveedores del estado de Washington informaron haber administrado, en total, 1159 dosis de la vacuna contra la COVID-19 a los trabajadores de la salud con alto riesgo.

COVID-19 Response Update Media Briefing with state and Health officials.

The Washington State Department of Health today announced that we, in partnership with The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Latino Center for Health, will host two online panel discussions to answer frequently asked questions about vaccines in the era of COVID-19. The webinars will feature trusted medical experts from around Washington state, such as virologist Dr. Larry Corey, M.D., who has been integral to Fred Hutch’s COVID-19 vaccine research and Phase III trials, along with physicians who administer vaccines every day.

The state Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) suspended the license of That One Place in Port Orchard for repeated COVID-19 public health and safety violations. The LCB provided the licensee a 24-hour period to avoid the suspension by complying with state law. However the owner would not agree to follow the law and the suspension has been instated.

Governor Jay Inslee today put a pause on most efforts to terminate agreements creating health districts and combined city-county health departments throughout the duration of the COVID-19 state of emergency.

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is happy to announce that COVID-19 vaccines are on the ground in Washington state, and this week, the first doses will be administered to high-risk health workers, as well as staff and residents of long-term care facilities.

The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup today completed their concurrent and thorough review of the federal process and has confirmed the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is safe and efficacious. The Workgroup provided their confirmation to the Governors of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington this morning. Washington, Oregon and Nevada joined California’s COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup in October, which has worked concurrently and independently to review the FDA’s actions related to COVID-19 vaccinations.