MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Gov. Inslee says two blessings of 2021 holiday season are boosters, masks

Dec 24, 2021, 6:21 AM

Inslee, holiday video...

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and First Lady Trudi Inslee. (Screengrab from video courtesy of Office of the Governor)

(Screengrab from video courtesy of Office of the Governor)

After a 2020 holiday video from Gov. Jay Inslee and First Lady Trudi Inslee that pleaded with Washingtonians to refrain from gathering for the holidays as COVID-19 cases continued to climb, 2021’s video message takes a different tone.

“We have the additional stress of the omicron variant,” Trudi Inslee acknowledges, but quickly adds that “we have ways to deal with that.”

“We hope that you will take some special precautions,” she said.

“The good news is we know we can do things to protect ourselves,” Gov. Inslee said. “Thousands of Washingtonians have already got their booster shot. We know that a booster is the optimum protection we can provide for ourselves.”

The governor also said the state is working to increase capacity and further expand access to COVID booster shots by opening up a mass vaccination site and building up existing clinics.

State recognizes difficulty finding booster shots, assures there is ‘plenty of supply’

“We know masks are available too, and that’s very important. Masks are important even if we do have our booster,” he said. “So we have many blessings this season, but two of them are getting the booster and wearing a mask. It’s a good season.”

Watch the full holiday video, recorded at the governor’s home, below:

Find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster appointment near you using the state’s Vaccine Locator tool.

MyNorthwest News

strike seattle teachers...

MyNorthwest Staff

No Seattle teachers strike: 50,000 students head back to school Wednesday as planned

Seattle teachers will not go on strike, and the school year will start Wednesday as scheduled. The Seattle Education Association (SEA) and Seattle Public Schools (SPS) announced a tentative contract agreement late Tuesday night.

6 hours ago

bite of seattle shooting 15-year-old...

Frank Lenzi

Bite of Seattle shooting: Judge orders 15-year-old suspect to remain in custody

A judge ruled Tuesday that the 15-year-old boy arrested in connection with July's deadly Bite of Seattle shooting will not be released from custody.

7 hours ago

Bite of Seattle shooting mayor katie wilson...

Frank Lenzi

After Bite of Seattle shooting, SPD must now update media within 1 hour of any major incident

Seattle is updating its public safety communication rules in the wake of July’s Bite of Seattle shooting that left three people dead and four others wounded. Mayor Katie Wilson announced Tuesday that she and Interim Police Chief Andre Sayles will be in direct contact during any significant incident. The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is expected […]

8 hours ago

Bite of Seattle shooting gang katie wilson...

Madeline Ottilie, KIRO 7 News

Seattle police ‘closing in’ on two people of interest in Bite of Seattle Shooting

Seattle police are “closing in” on two people of interest connected to the Bite of Seattle shooting that left three people dead more than a month ago.

9 hours ago

seahawks mcdonald's meal...

MyNorthwest Staff

Seahawks’ AJ Barner takes over Renton McDonald’s drive-thru to announce bobblehead meal

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner took over a McDonald's drive-thru window in Renton on Tuesday, handing out complimentary cans of Red Bull to customers.

10 hours ago

bellevue party house...

James Lynch

Summer’s almost over, but Bellevue police say the traffic crackdown will continue

The Bellevue Police Department is closing out its "100 Safe Days of Summer" campaign with a weeklong emphasis.

11 hours ago

Gov. Inslee says two blessings of 2021 holiday season are boosters, masks