Health and fitness

Snohomish PUD expands payment options as meter reading resumes 

As the state moves toward reopening more businesses in the wake of COVID-19, Snohomish County PUD will implement “a gradual and safe return” of select field operations, including meter reading, the utility said. The PUD also said it will continue to offer its community support plan for any customer experiencing a financial hardship related to…

COVID-19 Weekend Update for Lynnwood and Snohomish County: May 30, 2020

Intended to supplement our Tuesday-Saturday daily reports, the Weekend Update provides details on where infected individuals contracted the virus, numbers of tests administered, and positive vs negative testing results in Snohomish County. This week we are also providing information on the number of new cases per 100,000 population, one of the key targets that Washington…

Pop up blood donor center now open in Lynnwood

The COVID-19 pandemic has left the public health system scrambling to ensure the safety of patients and the stability of the local blood supply. Bloodworks is now teaming up with several community partners to host new Pop-Up Donor Centers throughout the region, including one in Lynnwood at the Lynnwood Stake Center, 1st Cultural Hall (Gym), 17321 44th Ave….

Fare collection restarts on Swift Bus Rapid Transit June 1

Community Transit will begin collecting fares for Swift Blue and Swift Green bus rapid transit lines Monday, June 1. Unlike other Community Transit bus routes, Swift riders pay fares at Swift stations, not at the front of the bus. Service ambassadors will be available at Swift stations beginning June 1 to answer questions and assist…

COVID-19 Daily Report for Lynnwood and Snohomish County: May 29, 2020

The Friday, May 29 data from the Snohomish Health District continue much as they have, showing no major deviation from the trends of the past two weeks. Incremental new cases per day (yellow chart) added another case over the pasts 24 hours, maintaining a relatively steady pace of new infections with 25 added since Thursday….

Inslee releases details of Safe Start — Washington’s phased reopening by county

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday the expansion of Safe Start — Washington’s Phased Reopening plan. The expansion comes as the current Stay Home, Stay Healthy order ends midnight Sunday. The expansion moves Washington through the phased reopening on a county-by-county basis. With this new approach, counties will have more flexibility to demonstrate they can safely…

Inslee announces state’s long-term care testing plan

Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announced the state’s plan to begin broad testing within long-term care facilities . The state Department of Health issued an order that will require widespread testing. Residents and staff in nursing homes will be tested within approximately two weeks, with a completion goal date of June 12. All residents and…

COVID-19 Daily Report for Lynnwood and Snohomish County: May 28, 2020

The Thursday, May 28 data from the Snohomish Health District continue to reflect the strong persistence of COVID-19 infection in our area, with at least two of our selected metrics (new cases and deaths) showing disturbing increases over the past week. We are not out of the woods yet. Incremental new cases per day (yellow…

Total claims for state unemployment benefits decrease from the previous week

During the week of May 17-23, there were 48,445 initial regular unemployment claims, down 65% from the prior week and 1,497,591 total claims for all unemployment benefit categories filed by Washingtonians, according to the Employment Security Department. ESD said it believes the decrease was in large part due to significant fraud prevention measures that were…

Snohomish County leaders plan to apply for state variance to allow Phase 2 reopening

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, Board of Health Chair Stephanie Wright, and County Council Chair Nate Nehring jointly announced Thursday their intention to apply for a variance that would allow Snohomish County to move into Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s reopening plan. The announcement comes after the county council Wednesday approved the final piece of…

COVID-19 Daily Report for Lynnwood and Snohomish County: May 27, 2020

The Wednesday, May 27 data from the Snohomish Health District attest to the stubborn nature of the COVID-19 infection in our area, with selected metrics remaining relatively steady. While they do not show the hoped-for light at the end of the tunnel, they do indicate that the situation is at least not deteriorating and that…

Edmonds College extends remote operations through June 19

Edmonds College said Monday it will extend its remote operations through June 19. Pending any further guidance on closure from Snohomish County or Washington State, Edmonds College offices currently plan to reopen to the public no earlier than Monday, June 22. Based on Gov. Jay Inslee’s Phase 1 Higher Education and Critical Infrastructure Workforce Training…

Inslee announces limited outdoor religious services are now allowed

Gov. Jay Inslee Wednesday announced the state’s plan for restarting religious and faith-based services for Phases 1 and 2 of Washington’s “Safe Start” reopening plan. Beginning Wednesday, religious and faith-based organizations in Phase 1 counties — including Snohomish — may host up to 100 people for outdoor services. In Phase 2, they can host up…

COVID-19 Daily Report for Lynnwood and Snohomish County: May 26, 2020

Note on weekend data reporting: With the Snohomish Health District not providing data updates on weekends and holidays, the Tuesday, May 26 numbers include the combined changes over the three-day Memorial Day Weekend — Saturday May 23, Sunday May 24 and Monday May 25 — plus changes for Tuesday, May 26 —  four days total….

Edmonds Arts Festival volunteers feed students’ creative side amid pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the cancellation of this year’s Edmonds Arts Festival, but it hasn’t detoured festival volunteers from their mission to support the arts and art education across the Edmonds School District. Board members from the Edmonds Arts Festival and Festival Foundation assembled art kits and this week are distributing them to families at 10…

More than 3,600 pounds of food donated in drive-thru event

In response to rising demand for food assistance during the coronavirus pandemic, the Lynnwood Food Bank held a drive-thru food drive Saturday afternoon. More than 3,600 pounds of food was donated to the food bank during the donation drive, which lasted from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The food bank — located at 5320 176th…

COVID-19 Weekend Update for Lynnwood and Snohomish County: May 23, 2020

Welcome to our first COVID-19 Weekend Update. Intended to supplement our daily weekday reports, the Weekend Update provides details on where infected individuals contracted the virus, numbers of tests administered, and positive vs. negative testing results in Snohomish County. Testing, along with contact tracing, has been identified as a key weapon in the battle with…

South County Fire helps veteran’s family put on a socially-distant patriotic display

South County Fire Friday helped the family of a 98-year-old World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient honor him with an impromptu self-distancing patriotic display. After hearing the sound of patriotic music playing nearby, firefighters at Lynnwood Fire Station 15 discovered it was coming from across the street at Aegis Assisted Living, where two…

COVID-19 Daily Report for Lynnwood and Snohomish County: May 22, 2020

The Friday, May 22 data from the Snohomish Health District show that while progress has been made over the full reporting period, COVID-19 is still very much with us and shows every sign of persisting into the foreseeable future. As our communities begin to cautiously reopen, we will follow these measures carefully for any sign…

Snohomish County won’t be ready for Phase 2 reopening June 1, officials say

Snohomish County is not yet ready to move to Phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan. June 1 was a possible target date for that, but Snohomish County leaders admitted in a Friday briefing that we are not there. Phase 2 of the Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Safe Start” program would reopen most businesses, including restaurants…

COVID-19 Daily Report for Lynnwood and Snohomish County: May 21, 2020

The Thursday, May 21 data from the Snohomish Health District suggest what might be interpreted as a slight setback in our local battle with COVID-19. New cases recorded in the past 24 hours (yellow chart) show that 36 cases were added to those infected, the biggest jump this week and a sobering departure from Wednesday’s…

Total claims for state unemployment benefits increased almost 28 percent from previous week — ‘some portion’ likely fraudulent

During the week of May 10-16, the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) reported that Washington residents filed 138,733 initial regular unemployment claims (an increase of 29,308 from the previous week) and 1,670,580 total claims for all unemployment benefit categories (an increase of 369,016 from the previous week). ESD believes some portion of the high…

Non-profit offering free dental work expands services to elective procedures

Medical Teams International said Thursday that services offered at the non-profit organization’s will be expanding services offered at its mobile dental van locations. Earlier this week, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Washington state’s plan for all elective procedures to resume. Now, Medical Teams International — which has been offering emergency drive-up services for those who are…

Verdant Health Commission donates $11K to help feed Edmonds College students

To help provide food and assistance for Edmonds College students who are experiencing food insecurity during COVID-19, the Verdant Health Commission has donated $11,880 to the Edmonds College Foundation. “We appreciate the generosity of our community partners during this time,” said Edmonds College President Dr. Amit B. Singh. “Our students are facing significant challenges, and…