NPI's Cascadia Advocate

Offering commentary and analysis from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's uplifting perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Tag Archives: 2019-2022 Coronavirus Pandemic

“The COVID-19 pan­dem­ic, also known as the coro­n­avirus pan­dem­ic, is an ongo­ing glob­al pan­dem­ic of coro­n­avirus dis­ease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute res­pi­ra­to­ry syn­drome coro­n­avirus 2 (SARS-CoV­‑2),” the pan­demic’s Wikipedia entry explains. “The nov­el virus was first iden­ti­fied in Wuhan, Chi­na, in Decem­ber 2019; a lock­down in Wuhan and oth­er cities in Hubei province failed to con­tain the out­break, and it spread to oth­er parts of main­land Chi­na and around the world.”

This is an archive of posts about the pan­dem­ic pub­lished by NPI’s Cas­ca­dia Advo­cate, includ­ing posts pub­lished as part of our COVID-19 Update series.

COVID-19 Update: Biden gets boosted again; federal COVID fraud inquiry begins in Idaho

Excerpt: A new vaccine has been approved to protect Americans against COVID-19. Meanwhile, President Biden's personal physician is providing regular updates on his battle with COVID. The President is taking Paxlovid and isolating as he recovers from his bout with the virus.
Written by:Rich Erwin
Categories:Healthcare
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COVID-19 Update: Novavax wins FDA approval; President Biden fights off BA.5

Excerpt: A new vaccine has been approved to protect Americans against COVID-19. Meanwhile, President Biden's personal physician is providing regular updates on his battle with COVID. The President is taking Paxlovid and isolating as he recovers from his bout with the virus.
Written by:Rich Erwin
Categories:Healthcare
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COVID-19 Update: Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants may make for a difficult summer

Excerpt: The newest variants of COVID-19, BA.4 and BA.5, are highly transmissible and creating new waves of COVID-19 infection as we enter summer.
Written by:Rich Erwin
Categories:Healthcare
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Transportation providers endanger health of traveling public in rush to abandon masking

Excerpt: The sudden policy shift, made with absolutely no regard for the potential adverse impacts on immunocompromised passengers, children, or those not wishing to travel in mask optional environments, is yet another development that will likely help prolong the pandemic -- with deadly and ominous consequences.
Written by:Andrew Villeneuve
Categories:Healthcare, Policy Topics, Public Planning
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COVID-19 Update: States, local governments consider drawdown of mask mandates

Excerpt: As the omicron wave begins to fade, states and local governments are considering changes to rules requiring the wearing of masks to protect against COVID-19.
Written by:Rich Erwin
Categories:Healthcare
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COVID-19 Update: Supreme Court blocks vaccine/test mandate for large employers

Excerpt: The decision, which was criticized by the administration, was then followed by a second decision allowing a more modest mandate requiring healthcare workers at facilities receiving federal money to be vaccinated.
Written by:Rich Erwin
Categories:Healthcare
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2022 legislative session begins; four state senators report positive COVID-19 tests

Excerpt: The 2022 session is expected to run through March 10th, 2022, the last day allowed by the Washington State Constitution for a regular session in an even-numbered election year like the one we're in.
Written by:Andrew Villeneuve
Categories:Legislative Advocacy
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COVID-19 Update: New Secretary of State Steve Hobbs implements vaccine mandate

Excerpt: Hobbs' predecessor Kim Wyman, a Republican, had chosen not to require employees reporting to her to be vaccinated, in a break with the rest of the state's executive department.
Written by:Rich Erwin
Categories:Healthcare
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COVID-19 Update: State, local governments place big orders for COVID-19 test kits

Excerpt: While the federal government is purchasing 500 million rapid tests to distribute free to the public in response to the rise of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, governments in the Pacific Northwest have decided to acquire their own supply.
Written by:Rich Erwin
Categories:Healthcare
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Need a fresh supply of good masks or COVID-19 at-home tests? Here’s where to get them

Excerpt: With community spread up and the risk of infection growing, now is a good time to stock up on essential protective supplies as well as reviewing safety protocols and reconsidering travel and gathering plans. Here are some recommendations.
Written by:Andrew Villeneuve
Categories:Healthcare, Policy Topics
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COVID-19 Update: Governments ramp up testing as omicron looms over holiday season

Excerpt: Ahead of Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year's, the Biden-Harris administration announced new steps to address the omicron variant, which is rapidly accounting for an increasing percentage of new coronavirus cases.
Written by:Rich Erwin
Categories:Healthcare
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Republican State Senator Doug Ericksen has died after contracting COVID-19 last month

Excerpt: Ericksen, fifty-two, represented the 42nd Legislative District, which currently encompasses much of Whatcom County, including portions of the City of Bellingham.
Written by:Andrew Villeneuve
Categories:Breaking News, Public Service
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COVID-19 Update: Pandemic set to enter a new phase as omicron variant spreads

Excerpt: With the omicron variant B.1.1.529 threatening to complicate management of the coronavirus pandemic, the United States is working on vaccinating young children against COVID-19 and enforcing vaccine mandates.
Written by:Rich Erwin
Categories:Healthcare
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COVID-19 Update: Young children are now vaccine-eligible, to the relief of many parents

Excerpt: With the omicron variant B.1.1.529 threatening to complicate management of the coronavirus pandemic, the United States is working on vaccinating young children against COVID-19 and enforcing vaccine mandates.
Written by:Rich Erwin
Categories:Healthcare
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