Respiratory illness season fades in Grant County
STAFF REPORT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 7 months AGO
After a notable spike in late January, respiratory illness cases have significantly declined in Grant County.
SOURCE: GRANT COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT
MOSES LAKE — With the arrival of spring the most severe phase of the 2024-25 respiratory illness has officially come to an end, according to the Grant County Health District.
“Since March 2025, emergency department visits in Grant County related to COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have remained below thresholds set by the health officers in our region,” GCHD officials wrote in a press release Tuesday. “Other indicators show that respiratory virus activity is continuing to decline.”
The flu caused the most trouble in 2024-25, with the highest rate of hospitalization nationally since 2010-11. Hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 were lower than all previous seasons since the disease first appeared on the scene in 2019.
“This season peaked in early February, when 13% of all emergency department visits were related to RSV, flu or COVID-19,” the press release said. “Since the season began GCHD has responded to 12 flu outbreaks in schools and long-term care facilities, and five COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities.”
Healthcare professionals are not required to report respiratory illnesses except for COVID-19 at a healthcare facility, it said, but many healthcare facilities share their observations with GCHD.
There have been four flu-related deaths during the current flu season. No COVID-19-related deaths were reported, it said.
ARTICLES BY STAFF REPORT
Connell woman killed in Booker Road crash
CONNELL — Charges are pending against a Kennewick man following a collision about 12 miles south of Othello that killed a Connell woman and injured three other people Tuesday evening. A Washington State Patrol press memo said intoxicating substances were a factor. Jessica Zarate, 37, Connell, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near the intersection of SR 17 and South Booker Road, the WSP memo said. She was driving south on Booker Road approaching the intersection when her car was hit by a pickup driven by John Reiss, 62, Kennewick. Edgar Garcia Quirino, 28, Othello, was driving north on SR 17 and ran into Zarate's car, the WSP memo said. The crash occurred at about 6:40 p.m.
Wheeler Road closed because of traffic collision
UPDATE: The road was reopened as of noon, according to a GCSO media release. MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s Office has announced there is a road closure between Road 3-NE and Road S-NE. There was a serious traffic collision. GCSO is asking for drivers to avoid the area and find alternative routes. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Doors opening: The Currents will provide homeownership for more local workers
About 104 homes are planned at the former Atlas sawmill site
Teachers, nurses, firefighters and other workers who keep Coeur d’Alene running will soon have more places to buy a home in the community where they work. About 104 homes are being planned to be built at Atlas Waterfront, on roughly 10 acres that are part of a swath of land that was once home to the Atlas sawmill and is being redeveloped. Ignite CDA, the city of Coeur d’Alene’s urban renewal agency, is leading this effort.