Kate Walters
Reporter
About
Kate Walters is a reporter covering Covid-19 and the many ways the pandemic has impacted our lives. She's covered personal experiences of community members, state and local policies, affects on the healthcare system, and more. In the past, Kate has reported on homelessness for KUOW, as well as general assignment stories ranging from city hall politics to sea stars. Originally from Australia, Kate studied journalism at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). She started her career in public radio at WXXI in Rochester, NY.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Stories
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Health
Covid-19 vaccine won’t be required for school kids in Washington state
The Washington state Board of Health voted unanimously Wednesday against adding the Covid-19 vaccine to the list of required immunizations for kids in schools and childcare settings in the state. The board was not debating the safety and efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine for children but deciding whether it should be required for school and childcare entry.
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Health
Omicron subvariant spreading further in Washington state
The highly-contagious omicron subvariant, known as BA.2, is now the dominant Covid-19 variant in Washington state, according to state secretary of health Dr. Umair Shah. However, Shah said during a media briefing Wednesday that, at this point, the state is not seeing case and hospitalization trends rising.
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Health
What will you do as masking indoors becomes optional?
The statewide indoor mask mandate ends in Washington this weekend. KUOW spoke with several members of the public to get a sense of what they plan to do and how they’re feeling as the pandemic enters this new phase.
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Health
Kids to continue masking in Seattle Public Schools — possibly for two more months
Washington state and King County are both lifting indoor mask requirements starting March 12. But, for now, students and staff in Seattle Public Schools will still need to mask up. State officials have moved up the timeline for ending mask requirements in schools, bars, restaurants, grocery stores, and a host of other venues.
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Education
State advisory group votes against adding Covid vaccination to WA schools requirement list
‘At the end of the day, the vote was actually really close.’
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Health
Mixed reactions as Washington plans to ease mask restrictions
Washington state is preparing to move to a new phase of the pandemic, with longstanding statewide indoor masking requirements set to lift on March 21.
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King County's vaccine verification rule will end March 1
King County is set to enter a new phase of the pandemic as officials roll back the Covid vaccine requirements put in place months ago.
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Government
Outdoor event mask mandate ends soon. Indoor may be next
‘Even before the governor's announcement, we heard some doctors saying they personally feel it's too soon for this conversation. They're just getting their head above water with this recent surge.’
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Health
Omicron variant detected in three Washington state counties
Three cases of the omicron variant have been detected in Washington state, according to the state Department of Health. That includes a case in King County.
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Health
'Not a time to panic.' Washington health officials urge vaccines, boosters with omicron on the horizon
Washington state health officials are doubling down on their plea for people to get vaccinated. This comes as the first U.S. case of the Covid-19 omicron variant has been detected in California.