The JOLT News Organization, A Washington Nonprofit Organization

You might want to think of infections as angry bacteria, microbes and germs, just looking for the right conditions to bite.

Pandemic, Tripledemic, Epidemic Oh My! Part 2

My intent in this column is to keep our community current with the local infectious state of affairs in the hope that this will help individuals and families make the best decisions for themselves at … more

By Debra L. Glasser, M.D. | 12/21/22 | 1 comment

Pandemic, Tripledemic, Epidemic Oh My! Part 1

This week we begin with a most fascinating and complex topic intricately related to infectious diseases àImmunity or our immune system. This is our defense system against invaders which you … more

By Debra L. Glasser, M.D. | 12/20/22

RSV and other boogers

The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) season is here in our state and community and is already peaking two months early. Since the middle of November, we’ve seen a steady … more

By Debra Glasser, M.D. | 11/29/22

Thurston County Health officer Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek gave a health situation update at the Board of Health meeting held Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

County Health monitoring infectious disease: Bivalent COVID booster available, monkeypox vaccine available, flu shot

The Thurston County Public Health Department has investigated 125 confirmed and probable cases of various communicable diseases in the past month, reported a county official. Thurston County … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 11/10/22

Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek, Thurston County Health Officer.

CDC ups Thurston County COVID Level to 'Medium'

Hello Thurston County! Our COVID-19 transmission rates continue to rise and we are seeing an increased number of COVID-19 outbreaks in Thurston County. Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control … more

5/20/22

Your tax dollars at work: Washington State Department of Health routinely tests waters for bacterial contamination. See story for list of locations from which shellfish are currently unsafe.

Fecal pollution restricts shellfish harvest in Mason, Pierce, Snohomish, and Thurston counties

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has completed the annual water quality evaluation of the state’s commercial shellfish growing areas. Unfortunately, high fecal … more

5/4/22

At-home COVID-19 tests are available free, by mail, to US residents.

Free at-home COVID tests now available here

Many sites in Thurston County continue to offer free COVID-19 testing for anyone interested, as part of the federal government’s fight against the pandemic. Now a new federal program, free … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 1/19/22

Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek, the Thurston County Health Officer.

County health officer writes to school leaders today about how to proceed

Dear Thurston County Superintendents and Heads of Schools, I am writing to inform you about the COVID-19 guidance from the Washington State Department of Health for the 2021-2022 school year. The … more

8/31/21

At the North Thurston Public Schools board meeting on Tue., Aug. 17, 2021, Stephanie Grip, a parent in the district, shared that masks should remain optional and not a requirement

NTPS parents lobby against integrating social justice and equity in curricula … and masks

Several parents spoke out against the North Thurston Public School’s (NTPS) decision to implement its new social justice curriculum during the regular school board meeting on Tuesday, August … more

By Danny Stusser | 8/19/21

Tumwater declared Aug. 31, 2021 to be Overdose Awareness Day at the city council meeting on Aug. 2.

“Overdose Awareness Day” coming to Washington and to Tumwater

Drug overdose remains a major issue within the state, which is why Tumwater recently declared August 31 as “Overdose Awareness Day” to help address the public health issue and remove the … more

By Danny Stusser | 8/4/21

Providence St. Peter Hospital named best in the region, third best in the state

U.S. News & World Report named Providence St. Peter Hospital as the 3rd best hospital in the state of Washington, and the top health facility in the region for the year 2021-22. The rankings … more

By Kristine Javier | 8/3/21

Don't let fake news stop you from booking your COVID-19 vaccine!

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services To Host Community-COVID-19 Vaccination Events Saturday and Sunday

OLYMPIA – Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is partnering with local organizations to host community COVID-19 vaccination clinics on Saturday for any member of the public … more

5/7/21

This image represents some 220 doses of a vaccine against COVID-19.

Still not vaccinated? No excuses now as sites are open without appointments

What would have been unimaginable six weeks ago is actual news this week: An abundance of COVID-19 vaccines are available -- and will expire if not given to people in the next few … more

By The JOLT Staff | 5/5/21

Officials and citizens appear over Zoom during a public meeting on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Many of those in attendance voiced support of a resolution declaring racism a crisis in Thurston County.

Racism declared a crisis in Thurston County

Racism in Thurston County was declared a crisis today, following a unanimous vote from the Board of County Commissioners. The vote came following many months of heightened activity among activists … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 3/9/21 | 1 comment

Thurston County Health Officer Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek (left) and Medical Reserve Corps Physician Dr. Britt Smith (right) prepare to vaccinate patients on Mar. 6, 2021.

Vaccine events see large turnouts; additional events planned for this week

Almost 900 people received their first dose of COVID vaccine Friday at a mass-vaccination event at the Thurston County Fairgrounds, and the next day, 1,100 people received the second dose at an event … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 3/8/21

A new COVID-19 testing site located in the Capital Mall parking lot, on Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. The site is operated by Northwest Laboratory.

New COVID-19 testing site opened today at the Capital Mall

A new COVID-19 testing site opened today in the Capital Mall parking lot, courtesy of Northwest Laboratory, a Bellingham-based medical lab. Jennifer Bull, CEO of Northwest Pathology, the parent … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 2/19/21

Health officer provides recipe and resources for maintaining mental health

Hello Thurston County, I can’t believe it’s already December! As winter really begins to set in, this week I want to take a moment to address mental health. When I was caring for … more

12/2/20

County Health Officer's weekly letter offers gratitude, hope and reassurance

Letter to the Community: November 25, 2020 Hello Thurston County, and Happy Thanksgiving! This year is going to be a little different for all of us as we use remote technologies or remain socially … more

11/24/20

Ready to quit smoking now? Washington state's Quitline has been helping people to stop smoking for 20 years this month.

Need help kicking the smoking habit?

Washington's Quitline is marking its 20th Anniversary and announcing modernized services that meet ongoing and emergent needs, from helping adults quit smoking – a risk factor for severe … more

11/24/20

Veterans Stand Down event this Friday

A diminished version of the annual Veterans Stand Down will take place this Friday, November 20, 7:00 am to Noon at the National Guard Armory in downtown Olympia Stand Downs are typically one to … more

By Kathleen Anderson | 11/16/20