Seattle, WA

Washington State Is Getting Free Covid Test Vending Machines

Published

2 years ago

February 8, 2024

Washington State Is Getting Free Covid Test Vending Machines

Are we in a post-Covid era? An extended Covid era? Nearly four years after the country’s first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in Washington, our state is introducing vending machines that will dispense free test kits, among other health supplies. Close your eyes and think back to February of 2020. This is not the future you would have imagined.

The machines, unveiled by the Department of Health, will be located in public places such as “food banks, transit stations, churches, schools, and libraries,” and managed by local health jurisdictions and Tribal Nations.

Their development isa sign of how much society has changed. Even with Covid numbers relatively flat—and relatively low compared to last year—the presence of infectious respiratory diseases like influenza and RSV, and our need to respond to them quickly, has become a public health priority.

“Rapid testing is part of our new normal,” said Kristina Allen, Community Testing Supervisor for the Department of Health in their press release.

But our new normal can still be expensive. A two-pack of rapid Covid tests at a typical pharmacy still retails for $19.99 over the counter.

The kiosks, as they are officially called, can also be stocked with other public health supplies at the direction of local jurisdictions and tribes, such as fentanyl test strips, Narcan, and pregnancy tests.

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Seattle, WA

UPDATE: Another incident reported near ‘the curve’ toward southwest end of westbound West Seattle Bridge

Published

17 minutes ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

UPDATE: Another incident reported near ‘the curve’ toward southwest end of westbound West Seattle Bridge

9:38 PM: SPD is arriving at the scene of another incident repoorted near “the curve” by the Walking On Logs/Welcome to West Seattle pullout, on this rainy night. We haven’t seen a visual but emergency radio describes a 1996 Ford Crown Victoria “in the grass” off the road. Apparently no injuries, as SFD has been canceled. No pole or other damage this time, police told dispatch.

10:23 PM: Officers just told dispatch they’ll be blocking both westbound lanes for a bit while the tow truck driver does their work.

10:50 PM: Both westbound lanes have reopened.

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Seattle, WA

49ers Set to Face the Seattle Seahawks in Divisional Round

Published

12 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

49ers Set to Face the Seattle Seahawks in Divisional Round

The San Francisco 49ers will continue their postseason run, next up against the No. 1 seed Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field for the NFC Divisional Round.

The 49ers defeated the No. 3 seed Philadelphia Eagles on the road during Wild Card Weekend. With the win, San Francisco advances to the NFC Divisional Round. As the lowest seed in the conference, the 49ers will face the top seed team, the Seahawks. San Francisco and Seattle will meet for the third time this season, the 49ers taking the first matchup and the Seahawks taking the second. Winner of the Divisional Round will advance to the NFC Championship, the final round ahead of Super Bowl LX at Levi’s® Stadium.

Time, date, and broadcast information for the 49ers vs. Seahawks Divisional Round contest will be announced following the conclusion of the NFL’s Wild Card Weekend.

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Seattle, WA

Seahawks Will Host Rams Or 49ers In Divisional Round

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Seahawks Will Host Rams Or 49ers In Divisional Round

The Seahawks will host an NFC West opponent in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Whether that opponent is the Rams or the 49ers will be determined on Sunday when the 49ers play the Eagles in Philadelphia. Also still to be determined is the date and time of the game.

The Rams, who are the No. 5 seed, beat the Panthers on Saturday to advance, and since Seattle, as the No. 1 seed, hosts the lowest-seeded team that advances out of the wild card round, the sixth-seeded 49ers would come to Lumen Field if they win on Sunday. If the Eagles win, however, the Rams would come to Seattle, while the Eagles would head to Chicago to face the Bears, who beat the Packers on Saturday night.

The Seahawks split the season series with both teams, losing to the 49ers in Week 1 and the Rams in Week 11 before beating the Rams in Week 16 and the 49ers in Week 18 as part of a seven-game winning streak that helped them win the NFC West and earn the No. 1 seed.

Next weekend’s game at Lumen Field will be the Seahawks’ first home playoff game with fans in the stadium—they hosted a wild card game in an empty stadium following the 2020 regular season—since they beat the Lions in the wild card round during the 2016 season. Prior to that empty-stadium loss to the Rams five years ago, the Seahawks won 10 consecutive home playoff games dating back to the start of their Super Bowl run in 2005. The Seahawks have reached the Super Bowl in each of the three previous seasons that they earned the No. 1 seed.

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