COVID-19 | The JOLT News Organization, A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

Intercity Transit has increased service on Routes 62A and 62B, traveling along the Martin Way corridor, to reduce crowding and allow for greater social distancing.

Intercity Transit Increases Frequency of Routes 62A and 62B

Intercity Transit announced today that it has added service to Routes 62A and 62B to better serve passengers traveling along the Martin Way corridor. The additional bus service increases trip … more

1/14/21

Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek, the Thurston County Health Officer.

County Health Officer gives new guidance to school districts today

Dear Thurston County Superintendents and Heads of Schools, I am writing to inform you of new data and guidance regarding the safety of in-person learning opportunities in the school setting. In … more

1/5/21 | 1 comment

Few graphics tell a story as well as this does.

WA coronavirus restrictions extended through Jan. 11

Fewer new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Washington during the past few weeks but that improvement is not enough to encourage Gov. Jay Inslee to lift restrictions on social gatherings … more

By Melissa Santos | Crosscut.com | 12/31/20 | 1 comment

Elizabeth Vadnais administers the COVID-19 vaccine to Ashlynn Strode on Dec. 18. The pair, nurses for Providence in Southwest Washington, were among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Southwest Washington.

Providence and Valley View have begun vaccinating healthcare providers

At least two local healthcare organizations are in the process of vaccinating front-line workers this week. Providence Health and Services has already administered COVID-19 vaccinations to some … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 12/29/20

The Thurston County Food Bank headquarters near downtown Olympia hasn't allowed indoor services since the pandemic began, opting instead for a drive-through model of service.

Food Bank volunteers working hard during holidays to distribute food during pandemic

Christmas and the holiday season typically see an increase in activity at the Thurston County Food Bank, as volunteers help to distribute boxes of traditional holiday food to people in need. As with … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 12/25/20

New School Metrics and Recommendations for Thurston County Schools

OLYMPIA – On Wednesday, Governor Inslee announced new school metrics and recommendations for public and private K-12 schools. Currently, Thurston County is at a 237.9 rate per 100,000 of newly … more

12/18/20

Heather Frey outside of her Seattle home on Dec. 15, 2020. Frey has been filing for pandemic unemployment assistance since March and, as of earlier this week, hadn’t received a single payment yet.

WA unemployment problems persist, with some going unpaid for months

Heather Frey filed for unemployment in March, when the pandemic disrupted her business selling used books online. Nine months later, the Seattle resident was still waiting on her first … more

By Melissa Santos | Crosscut | 12/17/20

Two floors of 2404 Chandler Court SW have been repurposed for use by Thurston County Superior and District courts. The first trial held here was on Dec. 14. Before serving as a new courtroom, the building was used as office space for several state agencies.

New courtroom opens to help courts deal with COVID safety concerns

A new courtroom, one built with COVID-19 safety measures in mind, hosted its first trial this week, thanks to a whirlwind of work from contractors and in the midst of a growing backlog of … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 12/15/20

Is this photo of tenants behind on their rent, or landlords unable to pay the mortgage on a house in which they invested?

New Eviction Resolution Program offers resources to tenants and landlords

The Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County is part of a new pilot program providing resources and support to renters at-risk for eviction, and landlords experiencing financial hardship, as a … more

12/14/20

Health officer discusses WA Notify app and new details about quarantines

Hello Thurston County! As you’ve seen in local and national news, this past week has brought a lot ofchanges. Some of the most important developments are the COVID-19 vaccine, the contact … more

12/9/20

Governor announces new economic supports and extension of restrictions

Gov. Jay Inslee today announced additional economic supports for workers and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Inslee also announced a three-week extension of the state’s current … more

12/8/20

Vaccine distribution plan update from the Washington State Department of Health

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) continues to make progress with our COVID-19 vaccine distribution planning efforts. Timeline: Vaccine Authorizations and … more

12/3/20

Health officer provides recipe and resources for maintaining mental health

Hello Thurston County, I can’t believe it’s already December! As winter really begins to set in, this week I want to take a moment to address mental health. When I was caring for … more

12/2/20

Spectators watch a "Fitter Families Contest" at the 1920 Kansas Free Fair. American Eugenics is rooted in these Kansas contests and exhibitions, which tried to evaluate family gene pools and attempted to link heredity traits with what constituted a desirable type of family.

U.S. mishandling of COVID echoes the 20th century eugenics movement

Over the past nine months, I have written about some of the parallels between the 1918-20 influenza pandemic and today’s coronavirus outbreak: opposition to masks, premature elimination of … more

By Knute Berger | Crosscut | 12/1/20

In this Wednesday, June 24, 2020 file photo, a volunteer receives an injection at the Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital in Soweto, Johannesburg, as part of Africa's first participation in a COVID-19 vaccine trial developed at the University of Oxford in Britain in conjunction with the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca says late-stage trials of its COVID-19 vaccine were "highly effective'' in preventing disease. A vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford prevented 70% of people from developing the coronavirus in late-stage trials, the team reported Monday Nov. 23, 2020.

A COVID vaccine is coming. Here’s how WA is preparing

That medical experts have warned of a winter surge of the coronavirus since the early days of the now year-old pandemic doesn’t make the lived reality of it any less sobering. Cases … more

by Hannah Weinberger | Crosscut | 11/27/20

North Thurston High School's block-and-mortar front entrance. Most students now are entering via Zoom.

Local and state resources help families with remote learning

Ups and downs of reported COVID-19 cases in Thurston County has largely determined whether students would learn in classrooms or remotely, using home internet or WiFi connections to access … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 11/25/20

County Health Officer's weekly letter offers gratitude, hope and reassurance

Letter to the Community: November 25, 2020 Hello Thurston County, and Happy Thanksgiving! This year is going to be a little different for all of us as we use remote technologies or remain socially … more

11/24/20

Ready to quit smoking now? Washington state's Quitline has been helping people to stop smoking for 20 years this month.

Need help kicking the smoking habit?

Washington's Quitline is marking its 20th Anniversary and announcing modernized services that meet ongoing and emergent needs, from helping adults quit smoking – a risk factor for severe … more

11/24/20

County Health Officer: Recipe for a Safe Thanksgiving

Hello Thurston County! Thanksgiving is a national holiday typically celebrated with friends and family around a dinner table to express gratitude for the blessings of the previous year. As … more

11/20/20

Providence Medical Group drive-through COVID-19 Testing: In this image, from July 2020, some 30 cars reach from the driveway entrance to the cotton swab.

Seeking to reduce wait times, Providence diverts some COVID-19 testing to its clinics

With waiting times as long as three to four hours lately at the drive-through testing it operates at its Hawks Prairie clinic parking lot, Providence will direct some of its patients to get tested at … more

By Danny Stusser | 11/19/20