HomeCorona UpdatesCoronavirus daily news updates, June 14: What to know today about COVID-19 in the Seattle area, Washington state and the world – The Seattle Times
Coronavirus daily news updates, June 14: What to know today about COVID-19 in the Seattle area, Washington state and the world – The Seattle Times
As COVID-19 cases continue to decline nationally, some experts warn that regions with low vaccination rates could face another upswing in cases. One reason for the current decline is that people who contracted the disease have developed natural immunity, but their protection may be waning, the Associated Press reported Sunday. Without widespread vaccinations in vulnerable states, the disease could make new inroads.
Here in King County, where more than 75% of people age 16 and older have started vaccinations, library officials announced that all of 50 branches of the King County Library System will be open for in-person visits by July 13.
We’re updating this page with the latest news about the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Seattle area, the U.S. and the world. Click here to see previous days’ live updates and all our other coronavirus coverage, and here to see how we track the daily spread across Washington and the world.
With surge in virus, Oman faces shortage of hospital beds
Coronavirus infections are surging in the Gulf Arab state of Oman, where health officials warned Monday that hospitals now face an acute shortage of beds amid a lagging vaccine rollout, the spread of highly transmissible variants and relaxed movement restrictions.
The influx of severe infections has forced overwhelmed hospitals nationwide to turn away patients, local media reported. The main COVID-19 field hospital in Muscat, the capital, surpassed 90% occupancy and its intensive care beds are now completely full, said the state-run Omani News Agency. Many smaller hospitals across the country also said they were operating beyond capacity.
Oman’s cases have more than tripled in the past month with severe and critical cases of COVID-19 hitting record highs.
As infections rise, England braces for delay in reopenings
FILE – In this Monday, April 12, 2021 file photo, people carry shopping bags while others queue to enter a store on Oxford Street in London. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to confirm Monday June 14, 2021, that the next planned relaxation of coronavirus restrictions in England will be delayed as a result of the spread of the delta variant first identified in India. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to disappoint people across England later Monday by saying that restrictions on social contact will remain in place for a few more weeks because of rising infections due to the delta coronavirus variant.
The variant first found in India is estimated by some to be at least 60% more contagious than the previous dominant strain. British scientists have urged the prime minister to err on the side of caution and postpone plans to lift most coronavirus restrictions in England on June 21.
For businesses, particularly those in hospitality and entertainment, any delays to what has been dubbed by the British media as “Freedom Day” will be a massive disappointment. A delay will be a particularly bitter pill for nightclubs, as they have not been allowed to reopen since March 2020.
New hiking trail app designed to help avoid crowded trails in Central Washington
Hiking season is underway in the Pacific Northwest, and there’s a new app for outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore some of Washington state’s most popular trails.
“We had this pandemic that created this need to go outside,” said Mat Lyons, president of Trails, Recreation, Education, Advocacy, Development, or TREAD, a nonprofit that connects people with public lands.
The group has released its TREAD Map App pilot program which will provide real-time trail and recreational data through spring and summer 2021 in Kittitas, Grant, Douglas, Chelan, and Okanagan counties.
Where you can fly nonstop from Seattle: Now that the State Department has updated its COVID-19 travel advisories, we’ve compiled a list of the 16 international destinations that travelers can get to directly. But hold on: “Can” doesn’t mean “should,” and it doesn’t apply to everyone. Our guide includes essential information about the rules and the virus risk levels for each place. And speaking of travel, Americans will soon be able to return to Ireland.
The Novavax vaccine was highly effective against COVID-19 and also protected against variants in a large study in the U.S. and Mexico, the company said today. This shot is expected to play a key role in low-income countries.
Book lovers, rejoice: Libraries across the Puget Sound area are reopening more branches. Here’s what we know.
No one pandemics like Seattle. It’s the most vaccinated city, and before that it was the big city with the least COVID-19 cases and deaths, even though it started out as the epicenter. Columnist Danny Westneat looks at whether it’s all a fluke — or perhaps there’s something about us that made us born to do this.
One family is making up for lost time in a big way now that vaccines have arrived. They gathered recently to party their way through a dozen birthdays, an Easter egg hunt, a toast to a new year … and more. Enjoy the photos.
No comments:
Post a Comment