How can I protect myself from the new omicron variant?
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All adults in Yakima County can get a COVID-19 booster dose now at community clinics in Yakima County. Read more
Funding is available to keep COVID testing sites and vaccine clinics operating in Yakima County well into 2022. The Yakima Health District board of health also discussed the new omicron variant, and natural immunity on Wednesday. Read more
The Yakima County jail is responding to another COVID-19 outbreak, the Yakima Health District announced. Read more
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COVID case and hospitalizations are trending down in Yakima County, though patient numbers remain high at Yakima Valley Memorial. That's likely related a backlog of care during this fall's surge. The hospital welcomed 35 nurses and five nursing assistants from FEMA earlier this month.
In addition to stressing the importance of COVID-19 and flu vaccines, the Yakima Health District recommends wearing a face covering in indoor public settings or when in a crowded area to reduce the chances of virus transmission.
In the South Central region of Washington, which includes Yakima, Klickitat, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla and Columbia counties, the COVID case rate for Latinos was about double the rate for whites, according to a report issued Nov. 17.
Unlike slow-starting and sporadic public vaccination efforts in the winter of 2020-21, COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, the Pfizer vaccine is an option for anyone 5 years and older and adults who qualify can receive boosters. Youths younger than 18 need a parent or guardian’s consent to get the vaccine.
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Over the past year, Yakima Herald-Republic has been checking in with Dr. Roy Simms of Community Health of Central Washington, who has been a pediatrician for 40 years. He discussed the recently approved pediatric COVID vaccine, its safety and what advice he has for parents.
As COVID-19 trends in Washington state continue to plateau at high levels — with some “mild” decreases — state health officials said Wednesday morning there’s growing concern more patients are becoming sick with other respiratory viruses now that colder weather is nearing.
As Yakima Health District receives first doses of pediatric COVID vaccine, distribution set to begin
The district received its first shipment of 3,000 pediatric doses Thursday.
With a federal advisory panel’s recent endorsement of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds and authorization expected soon, 10 health care organizations in Yakima County have already collectively preordered several thousand doses.
Yakima area health experts say COVID-19 and the flu are highly contagious respiratory illnesses that are spread in similar ways, and share symptoms with the common cold. People with COVID-19 might lose their sense of taste and smell.
While COVID-19 cases and hospitalization rates continue to decrease in Yakima County, outbreaks are still occurring, especially in congregate living facilities, Yakima Health District officials said.
Yakima Valley fire departments and the local Washington State Patrol detachment saw a few losses in their ranks following the governor’s deadline for COVID-19 vaccinations Monday.
Approach to vaccine requirements varies among Yakima area employers, with more workers getting shots
Details and enforcement of President Joe Biden’s plan to require many workers to get vaccinated or regularly tested for COVID-19 remain vague, but Yakima County employers say they prefer incentives and encouragement rather than a mandate for their employees.
Yakima County saw it's deadliest month of the COVID-19 pandemic in September even as other coronavirus trends begins to show improvement from the wave of delta variant cases.
Yakima-area health care providers are providing monoclonal antibody therapy to some COVID patients.
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