KIRO Radio's Dave Ross and reporter Aaron Granillo join up for the last time, after nearly a year of this reporting project.  They'll discuss the impossible online waitlists for vaccines, and if we're ready to reopen schools. And, over the past year of this crisis, what story or moment has stuck with Dave and Aaron the most? This will be the final formal episode of the COVID-19: Seattle podcast. To keep up with us elsewhere, you can: Sign up for our newsletter, which goes out once a week. We'll continue to collect local pandemic news for you in one easy place.Subscribe to Dave's podcast, Ross Files, for in-depth interviews with experts and local leaders. Thank you to all of our loyal listeners over the past year!

Dr. George Diaz is an infectious disease specialist with Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, WA. He treated the very first confirmed coronavirus patient in the United States, isolating him with the hospital's strictest Ebola precautions and using a robot for examinations.  Exactly a year later, he joins KIRO Radio's Dave Ross and reporter Aaron Granillo on the COVID-19: Seattle podcast to reflect on those earliest days of the pandemic, and make predictions for the year ahead.

KIRO Radio's Dave Ross and reporter Aaron Granillo discuss the vaccine rollout in Washington state, and whether teachers should be able to cut the line. You can check your current eligibility for the vaccine here. And, Whatcom County is seeing a surge of cases. They expect January to triple what they saw in December, which was already the county's worst month ever. Dave and Aaron issue a timely reminder: don't forget about "stranger bias."

KIRO Radio's Dave Ross speaks with Dr. Keith Jerome, head of the University of Washington's Virology Lab, to answer common questions about the vaccine rollout and address the post-holiday surge in cases. Plus, reporter Aaron Granillo joins with more information about your place in line for a vaccine, and the statewide app that should be online next week.

Social Distancing... lockdowns... PPE shortages... and distance learning. Those were just a handful of the major challenges we faced in 2020. And KIRO Radio's Dave Ross and reporter Aaron Granillo tracked it all right here, day by day. What were people in Washington thinking and feeling during the very first statewide lockdown? Did the predictions of doctors and researchers in the early days come true?  Aaron is joined by KIRO Radio's Mike Lewis as they listen back to the earliest episodes of this podcast and discuss the milestone moments in the pandemic from 2020.

Governor Inslee's recently revised guidelines mean we could see many school districts reopening for in-person classes before the end of January. Join KIRO Radio's Dave Ross and reporter Aaron Granillo as they cover what this means for children, teachers and staff across Washington state. And, the next federal relief bill has inched just a little bit closer to passing. This version includes a second stimulus check. Finally, this was a big week for healthcare workers: Pfizer's vaccine was distributed to hospitals and clinics across the US. How concerned should we be about the allergic reactions some people have seen?

KIRO Radio's Dave Ross is joined by reporter Aaron Granillo to discuss the agonizing process of being so close to a vaccine while daily coronavirus cases numbers have reached a new peak nationwide. How are our hospitals and healthcare providers holding up here in Washington state? Aaron explains our hospital capacity, and who will be at the front of the line for vaccination. And, Governor Inslee's restrictions on restaurants, gyms and theaters - now extended through January - have put many business owners and their employees in an impossible position. Dave Ross walks us through the politics in the other Washington, as Republicans and Democrats argue over liability and bailing out local governments.

Reporter Aaron Granillo is joined this week by Mike Lewis, host of KIRO Nights and a familiar voice on the show. They'll take a look at the latest coronavirus stats as a third surge in cases meets with the holiday season. How are we doing on hospital capacity, and what is the current survival rate from the virus? Mike also owns a local bar, and discusses how the new statewide restrictions on indoor dining and alcohol service are impacting his business and employees. In an impossible situation, what kind of state and federal relief can we expect? And finally, Washington state just launched an exposure notification app this week. Plenty of people have opted in so far, and we'll tell you how you can either download or turn on the feature on your own phone. You can hear more from Mike Lewis on KIRO Nights, weekdays from 7-10 PM or on demand as a podcast.

KIRO Radio's Dave Ross talks with Governor Jay Inslee about Washington's response to the pandemic. What is hospital capacity like right now? How dire is this third wave? And what do the predictive models tell us about the rest of the holiday season? Then, reporter Aaron Granillo joins Dave Ross to debrief the interview and look ahead at how we can possibly dig our way out of the dire financial straits this virus has left so many families and businesses in.

KIRO Radio's Dave Ross and reporter Aaron Granillo cover the encouraging early results of the Pfizer vaccine trial, and chat with Dr. Julie McElrath. She's leading one of 3 major vaccine trials in Seattle and looking for volunteers.  And Dr. Stephen Anderson from MultiCare Auburn Medical Center has been working on the frontlines in the emergency department throughout the pandemic. He joins us to explain just how serious the third wave of the virus is for Washington state, and the conversation convinces both Dave and Aaron to change their Thanksgiving plans. If you'd like to get involved in a vaccine trial, you can find more information here. Join the conversation and submit your own ideas for show conversations in our new community Facebook group.

The US is hitting a 3rd wave of coronavirus cases while we reconsider our nation's leadership. What would it take for either Biden or Trump to get life in the US "back to normal" again? KIRO Radio's Dave Ross interviews virologist Dr. William Haseltine, a former Harvard researcher with a focus on public health, about how we can banish the pandemic for good... even without a vaccine. Then, reporter Aaron Granillo joins to talk about what the exit polls suggest American voters prioritized this election: the economy, or the pandemic?

Reporter Aaron Granillo breaks an exclusive interview with the first confirmed patient in Seattle who was re-infected with the coronavirus. Then, he does a Q&A with KIRO Radio's Dave Ross to answer questions like: how long does immunity last? How many different strains of the virus are out there? And what does this mean for the vaccine? Join the conversation and get your own questions about the virus answered by joining COVID-19: Seattle on Facebook.

KIRO Radio's Dave Ross and reporter Aaron Granillo discuss the fall wave of new coronavirus cases that's sweeping the country, and compare red and blue state policies. Is another lockdown ahead of us in Washington? Governor Inslee did issue some restrictions earlier this week, but only for college campuses. With 35 outbreaks statewide, the message to students is: stop socializing. And, local health officials released an early version of their plan for distributing a vaccine throughout the state. But have they factored in our trust issues? Is there something you want this podcast to report on? Or a story of your own you want to share? You can now talk to the show directly by joining our new Facebook group.

Coronavirus cases are rising in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. But some restrictions are loosening: movie theaters reopen on Friday. Dr. Ali Mokdad from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which tries to predict when coronavirus cases will rise and why, joins KIRO Radio's Dave Ross to discuss what to expect as we head into colder weather and plan more indoor gatherings. Dr. Mokdad also offers his best prediction for when this will all be over: in other words, when we can expect a vaccine. Two major vaccine trials paused this week after a small number of negative reactions, and reporter Aaron Granillo will explain why that's actually good news. And, of course, we take a look at the campaign trail. Two Biden campaign staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus. And President Trump resumed his rallies, triumphing his defeat of the disease. Join the conversation in the COVID-19: Seattle Facebook group.

KIRO Radio's Dave Ross and reporter Aaron Granillo give a 10-minute recap of Wednesday night's debates. How did the candidates talk about the ongoing pandemic? Incumbent Governor Inslee faced off against his Republican challenger Loren Culp. And Vice President Mike Pence took the stage, behind plexiglass, to debate Senator Kamala Harris. Plus, we'll give you a rundown of all this week's coronavirus news you can use. A coronavirus outbreak strikes the University of Washington's Greek Row, there are some new rules at Seattle parks, and the CDC has updated what you need to know about how the virus can spread. Free coronavirus testing sites are open every day across Seattle. You can find the locations and reserve a spot here. Or, purchase an at-home coronavirus test, newly available in Washington, right here. Join the conversation in our podcast's brand new Facebook group.

KIRO Radio's Dave Ross and reporter Aaron Granillo react to today's breaking news that President Trump has tested positive for the coronavirus. With just 30 days until the election, what does this mean for the health of his campaign - and the health of the country?

KIRO Radio's Dave Ross and reporter Aaron Granillo discuss this week's coronavirus news. First up: COVID is accelerating job losses at Boeing, and the company decided this week to shutter it's 787 Dreamliner production line in Everett. The first presidential debate confused and dismayed many of those who tuned in. Dave Ross parses through the mayhem and pulls out a better idea of each candidate's plan to handling this ongoing pandemic. And, select school districts in Washington are welcoming back some of their youngest students for in-person classes. What do parents think about that? Join the conversation in our podcast's Facebook group.

KIRO Radio's Dave Ross and reporter Aaron Granillo discuss a sobering milestone the US passed this week: 200,000 deaths from COVID-19. How is our country grieving? And what does this say about how we've handled the pandemic so far? Speaking of our pandemic response, Dr. Anthony Fauci and the head of the CDC testified before Congress on Wednesday about the seemingly ever-changing CDC guidelines. Senator Patty Murray wants a task force to investigate. And, the very earliest infection rate data is back from schools that reopened for in-person classes. Join the conversation in our Facebook group.

As skepticism about vaccines rises nationwide, KIRO Radio's Dave Ross calls Dr. Keith Jerome, head of the University of Washington's Virology lab, to ask him the question on everyone's mind: when can we expect a vaccine in pharmacies? By election day? And how safe will it be? Join the conversation on our podcast's Facebook page.

In a freshly formatted weekly episode, KIRO Radio's Dave Ross and reporter Aaron Granillo discuss the shocking revelations from Bob Woodward's new book, 'Rage,' and play tape of the president admitting to the severity of the virus being far worse than the flu as early as February. How much of a difference would an earlier lockdown or mask mandate have made? And should Woodward have broken this story back in March, when lives still could have been saved? In other news: a "worship protest" on Labor Day outside a shuttered GasWorks Park drew ire from the surrounding community and sharp comparisons between large prayer gatherings and large protests against police brutality. Dave Ross offers a defense of targeted park closures. Join the conversation in our new Facebook group: COVID-19: Seattle Podcast Updates!