The Daily Chronicle

Gov. Jay Inslee addresses the media earlier this year.

Inslee Calls for Greater Funding for Homelessness, Discusses Possible COVID-19 Phase Rollbacks

The escalation of homelessness in Washington state due to COVID-19 has the governor calling for some late action by state legislators to fund potentially hundreds of millions of dollars more in … more

Rick Bannan / For The Chronicle | 4/9/21 | 1 comment

Will Dix, a pharmacist with Walgreens for over 20 years, gives William Yeoman his first round of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Prestige Post-Acute and Rehab Center last January in Centralia.

Washington State's COVID Vaccine Leader Weighs in on Struggles and Successes

But not long after the COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Washington state in December, when high-risk nurses, doctors and first responders received the very first shots with great fanfare, the days were … more

Nicole Brodeur / The Seattle Times | 4/1/21

Governor Jay Inslee talks during a press conference at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in Chehalis in 2019.

Why Washington's Rollout of COVID Vaccine Eligibility Has Been Slower Than in Other States

Perhaps you are reading this and you are young(ish) and healthy and have the luxury of being able to work from home. Maybe you should count your blessings. But perhaps you've also been working … more

David Gutman / The Seattle Times | 4/1/21

Inslee: All Washington Residents Over 16 Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine April 15

The number of those living in Washington state able to receive doses of one of a number of available COVID-19 vaccines will reach an almost-universal proportion as Gov. Jay Inslee announced that all … more

The Chronicle staff | 3/31/21

FILE PHOTO — Lewis County Public Health Director J.P. Anderson announces policies in how the county will publicly report COVID-19 cases in a meeting last year.

COVID-19 Cases Plateau in Lewis County Amid Concerns of ‘Fourth Wave’

Lewis County’s COVID-19 cases are plateauing, with 33 cases reported in the week of March 21, slightly up from the prior week’s 29. Locally, cases began rapidly declining in late January, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/31/21

Syringes are prepped inside the Community Event Building in the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds during a vaccine distribution event last January.

Two Million More Washingtonians Are Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccines

For months, Janelle Pfeifer has felt a tinge of fear whenever a customer comes into the busy Pike Place Market restaurant where she works. Sometimes she feels more like a babysitter than a restaurant … more

Paige Cornwell / The Seattle Times | 3/31/21

FILE PHOTO — Staff at the Providence Hawks Prairie drive-up COVID-19 testing site work through the rain in Lacey last November.

Two Cases of South Africa's Coronavirus Variant Have Been Identified in Thurston County

A concerning coronavirus variant has been identified in two Thurston County residents that tested positive for the virus last month. The Washington state Department of Health notified Thurston … more

By Martín Bilbao / The Olympian | 3/23/21

Stephanie Eschenwald holds up a drink at the Station Coffee Bar and Bistro in Centralia on Monday.

Lewis County Sails Into Phase 3 of State Reopening Plan

Monday morning ushered in more leniency for restaurants and other businesses across Washington, with the entire state moving into Phase 3 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s reopening plan. The … more

By Claudia Yaw / cyaw@chronline.com | 3/22/21

Vials of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine sit on a table inside the Community Event Building at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds during a vaccine distribution event Sin late January.

Lewis County Faring Better With Vaccine Distribution

After weeks of lagging behind the state in the race to vaccinate residents against COVID-19, Lewis County is now faring better as the percentage of locals who have received at least their first dose … more

By Claudia Yaw / cyaw@chronline.com | 3/19/21

FILE PHOTO — Medical personnel at Valley View Health Center examine a patient at a drive up COVID-19 testing site in Centralia.

Appointments Open for Sunday COVID-19 Vax Clinic at Valley View

Appointments are open for a COVID-19 vaccine clinic this Sunday, March 21, run by Valley View Health Center. To register, complete the vaccine waitlist survey on vvhc.org. Once completed, Valley View … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/19/21

Cars sit in lines as patients prepare to receive their first round of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine last January at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.

Hundreds of Appointments Open for COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Friday

Hundreds of vaccine appointments are still available for a Providence COVID-19 clinic scheduled for Friday at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds. Sign-ups can be found here: … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/18/21

People With Disabilities at High Risk for COVID-19 Are Now Eligible for Vaccination in Washington

People with disabilities who are at high risk for COVID-19 — and their caregivers — are now eligible for vaccination in Washington state. But how disabilities and risk are defined is … more

Evan Bush / The Seattle Times | 3/18/21

FILE PHOTO — Moderna COVID-19 vaccine dosages sit on a table as medical professionals work to distribute them to vulnerable populations such as the ederly and those in multi-generational households, at the Cooks Hill Community Church in Centralia.

Washington Health Officials Race to Vaccinate Farmworkers as More Front-Line Employees Become Eligible

For the past year, masks, plastic shielding, temperature checks, tests and endless rounds of sanitation have been the main weapons deployed in an effort to protect employees at the Kershaw Companies … more

Evan Bush and Hal Bernton / The Seattle Times | 3/17/21

Medical professionals prepare swabs for COVID-19 testing at the Providence Hawks Prairie drive-up clinic last November in Lacey.

Thurston Adds Nine COVID-19 Cases, Expects More Vaccine Doses

Thurston County reported 9 new cases of COVID-19 as the county makes steady progress in its vaccination efforts. The added cases brings the county's total to 7,516 cases with 72 deaths, according … more

Martín Bilbao / The Olympian | 3/17/21

COVID-19 swab tests are conducted at the Valley View Health Center drive-up testing site in Centralia last year.

Lewis County Reports Five New COVID-19 Cases; Officials to Shift to Weekly Reports, Not Daily

Lewis County Public Health and Social Services reported five new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, bringing the county’s total since last year to 3,323. The death toll stands at 50. Of those new … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/16/21 | 1 comment

Doctor Robert McElhaney Jr., left, and Jessica Blankenship, conduct drive up COVID-19 swab tests last August at Mary’s Corner Medical Clinic.

Lewis County Reports Two New COVID-19 Cases Friday

Lewis County Public Health and Social Service reported two new COVID-19 cases Friday, bringing the county’s total case count since last year to 3,304. The death toll stands at 50. Of … more

By The Chronicle | 3/15/21

County data shows COVID-19 cases by region. The gap above represents the week of Feb. 24, when Lewis County did not release its weekly data report.

Lewis County’s COVID-19 Cases Continue to Decline, But Vaccination Rate Lagging Behind State Average

As Washington state comes off a third wave of COVID-19 infections, Lewis County continues to see a significant decline in cases. For the first time since last fall, the county’s weekly case … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/12/21

Inslee Orders Schools to Offer In-Person Learning

K-12 students across Washington state will have some sort of in-person schooling by the middle of next month as Gov. Jay Inslee made an emergency proclamation calling for on-site instruction to be … more

By Rick Bannan / For The Chronicle | 3/12/21

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine dosages sit on a table as medical professionals work to distibute them to vulnerable populations such as the ederly and those in multi-generational households at the Cooks Hill Community Church in Centralia.

Appointments Available for Saturday COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at Fairgrounds

Hundreds of appointments are still available for a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine clinic this Saturday. The event is being held at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds but is not a … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/11/21

Cars sit in lines as patients prepare to receive their first round of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in late January at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.

Sign-Ups Open for Another County-Run COVID-19 Vaccination Event

Residents can now sign up for another COVID-19 vaccination clinic this Thursday set up by Lewis County. The event will be held at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds and is open to people 65 and … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/9/21