Coronavirus Outbreak

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Bad weather slows COVID-19 vaccination drive, but experts see clearer skies ahead

by Alan Boyle on February 19, 2021February 20, 2021 at 10:06 am

They say that the second vaccine shot for COVID-19 is rougher than the first one — and we’re not just talking about the side effects. As a newly double-vaccinated member… Read More

Paul G. Allen Family Foundation giving $1.4M in COVID-19 relief aimed at underserved communities

by Kurt Schlosser on January 25, 2021January 24, 2021 at 7:33 pm

The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation is giving an additional $1.4 million in relief funds to aid underserved populations across Washington state in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The foundation, originally founded… Read More

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One man’s quest for the COVID-19 vaccine: Tips to remember when it’s your time to be immunized

by Alan Boyle on January 19, 2021February 19, 2021 at 5:57 pm

Trying to get an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine on the day that eligibility was expanded to new age groups in Washington state would be a familiar experience to anyone… Read More

Seattle tech worker who got vaccine trial shot feels great — but she worries for those hurt by pandemic

by Kurt Schlosser on December 30, 2020December 29, 2020 at 8:21 pm

Nearly 10 months after being the first person to receive a shot in the first U.S. clinical trial of a vaccine for coronavirus, Seattle’s Jennifer Haller is concerned less about… Read More

Can vaccinated people still transmit COVID-19? The answer is key for herd immunity, research finds

by Kellie Schmitt on December 22, 2020December 23, 2020 at 7:14 am

As coronavirus vaccines are distributed throughout the country, a big question remains: Even though the vaccines reduce symptomatic COVID-19, can vaccinated individuals still transmit the virus? The answer could significantly… Read More

Jeff Bezos pledges $25M more to All in WA to help group provide COVID-19 relief across state

by Kurt Schlosser on December 21, 2020December 21, 2020 at 12:34 pm

Jeff Bezos is doubling his contribution to All in Washington, a statewide effort to provide COVID-19 relief funds. The Amazon CEO pledged $25 million in matching funds on Monday, equaling… Read More

Microsoft commits $110M more to support workers, non-profits and schools during COVID-19

by Kurt Schlosser on December 17, 2020December 17, 2020 at 2:07 pm

Microsoft announced Thursday that it is committing more than $110 million in additional funds to help Washington state continue to deal with and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Microsoft President… Read More

Two Seattle techies create bracelets to let people signal they’re vaccinated against COVID-19

by Lisa Stiffler on December 17, 2020December 18, 2020 at 12:25 pm

With a resume that includes Microsoft, Amazon and the shipping powerhouse Convoy, Seattle’s Greg Akselrod is hardwired for data. And the numbers around the support for the COVID-19 vaccine troubled… Read More

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Be your selfie: Seattle mask makers FriendlyFace design a way to bring smiles during the pandemic

by Kurt Schlosser on December 16, 2020December 16, 2020 at 5:10 pm

It’s not easy to put on a happy face, or any face, really, during a pandemic in which face masks and frowns are kind of the norm. But a Seattle… Read More

Amazon asks CDC to prioritize its essential workers for COVID-19 vaccine at ‘earliest appropriate time’

by Kurt Schlosser on December 16, 2020December 16, 2020 at 4:46 pm

As the first vaccines for COVID-19 are being administered in the U.S. this week, Amazon is asking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to take care of some of… Read More

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RealNetworks releases free ‘MaskCheck’ app to automatically monitor public health compliance

by Todd Bishop on December 15, 2020December 14, 2020 at 8:17 pm

A new app from RealNetworks can detect whether people are wearing facemasks in public, seeking to help businesses, schools and others monitor compliance with public health guidelines designed to prevent… Read More

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Gates Foundation commits $250M more to COVID response, stressing equity in vaccine delivery

by Kurt Schlosser on December 10, 2020December 10, 2020 at 8:57 am

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is committing an additional $250 million in the fight against COVID-19, with funds going to support research, development, and equitable delivery of lifesaving tools,… Read More

Washington state launches COVID-19 exposure notification app using Google and Apple technology

by Lisa Stiffler on November 30, 2020December 9, 2020 at 11:45 am

Washington state unveiled a new app to inform residents if they’ve been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19, as infection rates in the state soar to an average of 2,700… Read More

As COVID test sites reach capacity, Washington state leaders urge restraint and judgment

by Lisa Stiffler on November 20, 2020November 23, 2020 at 10:49 am

As Thanksgiving draws closer, COVID-19 infections are surging and virus testing is hitting capacity, leaving health experts and elected officials imploring the public to stay home, stay safe and save… Read More

Bill Gates optimistic about COVID vaccine science, worried about ‘dysfunctional’ U.S. distribution

by Todd Bishop on November 17, 2020November 17, 2020 at 6:38 pm

Bill Gates expressed optimism about the potential effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine candidates, pointing to evidence from Pfizer’s trial suggesting that only a “modest level of antibodies” will be required to… Read More

Teen who built popular coronavirus tracking website has COVID-19 and calls it ‘pretty terrible’

by Kurt Schlosser on November 17, 2020November 17, 2020 at 8:55 am

Avi Schiffmann, the Seattle-area teen who built a website to track the early and ongoing spread of coronavirus, has tested positive for COVID-19. Schiffmann, 18, tweeted about his diagnosis on… Read More

Adaptive plans fall launch of T-cell test for past COVID-19 detection, as alternative to antibody tests

by Todd Bishop on November 13, 2020November 13, 2020 at 10:54 am

Adaptive Biotechnologies says it’s proceeding with plans to launch a new type of test to determine if someone was previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, after a… Read More

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Microsoft: Russian and North Korean hackers are targeting COVID-19 vaccine developers

by Todd Bishop on November 13, 2020November 13, 2020 at 9:18 am

Microsoft says it has detected cyberattacks by hackers operating in Russia and North Korea against seven companies working on COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. The tech giant described the cyberattacks in… Read More

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Amid ‘alarming rise’ of COVID-19, Fred Hutch tightens restrictions, and Inslee makes new appeal

by Todd Bishop on November 12, 2020November 13, 2020 at 10:00 am

Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has its finger on the pulse of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the home of top researchers in the field of infectious disease — which… Read More

As COVID cases break records and keep rising, why no new restrictions in Seattle region?

by Lisa Stiffler on November 7, 2020November 7, 2020 at 10:18 am

The rate of new COVID-19 infections continues to rise in Seattle and the rest of King County, with more than 300 new cases reported each day last week. In the… Read More

Gov. Inslee allocating $24M for computing devices to help more Washington students get connected

by Kurt Schlosser on November 2, 2020November 2, 2020 at 10:53 am

Gov. Jay Inslee is using $24 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds to purchase approximately 64,000 computing devices to help more students in Washington state get connected during remote learning. Inslee’s… Read More

Seattle startup Membrion creating spray coating to help cloth masks better guard against coronavirus

by Kurt Schlosser on October 26, 2020October 26, 2020 at 12:46 pm

Membrion, the Seattle startup that spun out of the University of Washington four years ago, is working on new technology that could make face masks even more protective in the… Read More

More hours, more burned out: Survey finds remote tech workforce feeling strain of working from home

by Kurt Schlosser on October 19, 2020October 19, 2020 at 10:01 am

The pandemic and remote work are wearing on the tech workforce, with 68% of respondents to a new survey saying they are more burned out than when they worked in… Read More

‘Two Screens for Teachers’ to supply extra monitors in Seattle and puts out call for help in other cities

by Kurt Schlosser on October 13, 2020October 13, 2020 at 10:03 am

Remote teaching is about to get a little bit easier for thousands of teachers in Seattle Public Schools. The nonprofit organization “Two Screens for Teachers” announced Tuesday that it’s purchasing… Read More

Microsoft’s new ‘hybrid workplace’ policy will make working from home a permanent part of the mix

by Kurt Schlosser on October 9, 2020October 9, 2020 at 1:28 pm

Microsoft has released new “hybrid workplace” guidance that lays out how employees can have a more flexible remote work schedule and even relocate elsewhere in the country as the tech… Read More

Fred Hutch opens dedicated research center in Seattle to test treatments for COVID-19 patients

by Kurt Schlosser on October 5, 2020October 5, 2020 at 12:50 pm

Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is opening a new facility dedicated to testing treatments for people who have tested positive for COVID-19. The COVID-19 Clinical Research Center, or CCRC… Read More

Amazon donating an additional $2.7M to aid underserved Seattle-area students during pandemic

by Kurt Schlosser on October 1, 2020October 1, 2020 at 6:54 am

Amazon is donating more than $2.5 million to bolster its commitment to students from underserved communities in the Seattle region and help meet their needs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,… Read More

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UW researchers driving around Seattle using Street View-style camera to study response to pandemic

by Kurt Schlosser on September 30, 2020September 30, 2020 at 11:16 am

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered life as we know it in Seattle, and a team from the University of Washington is conducting research using images from around the city to… Read More

News Brief

Scientists find more potential ingredients for ‘antibody cocktail’ that fights COVID-19

by Alan Boyle on September 24, 2020September 24, 2020 at 3:17 pm

Genetic sleuths flesh out the story of how coronavirus got its start in Washington

by Alan Boyle on September 10, 2020September 10, 2020 at 3:51 pm

Detailed genetic analyses of the strains of virus that cause COVID-19 suggest that the outbreak took hold in Washington state in late January or early February, but went undetected for… Read More

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Scientists design proteins that could keep coronavirus from spreading COVID-19

by Alan Boyle on September 9, 2020September 9, 2020 at 11:16 am

Imagine being able to ward off COVID-19 just by spritzing a nasal spray into your nostrils. It may not be just your imagination: Researchers at the University of Washington have… Read More

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Sea-Tac Airport rolls out self-driving floor cleaners, restroom stall lights and more pandemic safety tech

by Kurt Schlosser on September 8, 2020September 8, 2020 at 2:21 pm

In addition to the thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer being dispensed around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the Port of Seattle is turning to a few new high-tech approaches to cleaning… Read More

Seattle’s MoPOP to reopen after 6-month pandemic closure, with strict guidelines in place

by Kurt Schlosser on September 2, 2020September 2, 2020 at 3:33 pm

The Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle will reopen to the public on Sept. 18 with new safety measures in place, six months after closing because of the coronavirus pandemic.… Read More

Microsoft and Seahawks help lead new initiative connecting Washington students to remote learning

by Lisa Stiffler on September 2, 2020September 2, 2020 at 12:18 pm

As the vast majority of Washington’s kids are returning to school this month via Zoom conferences and online assignments, a statewide effort called the Digital Equity Initiative is launching Wednesday… Read More

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Sensoria Health unveils new band that monitors key COVID-19 indicators, including blood oxygenation

by Kurt Schlosser on September 1, 2020September 3, 2020 at 11:19 am

Sensoria Health, makers of wearable technology designed to improve healthcare, has a new Smart Band that tracks key vitals and could help detect potential COVID-19 symptoms. Redmond, Wash.-based Sensoria Health… Read More

Researchers discover new avenue for fighting COVID-19, Ebola and other viral diseases

by Alan Boyle on August 27, 2020August 27, 2020 at 2:07 pm

A team including researchers from Seattle’s Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason has identified a new pathway for protecting cells from deadly viruses — including the coronavirus that causes COVID-19… Read More

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Nevada Dept. of Health launches COVID Trace app developed by Seattle tech veterans

by Kurt Schlosser on August 24, 2020August 24, 2020 at 9:01 am

Three Seattle software engineers who set out to build a COVID-19 tracing app back in March are finally seeing the results of their hard work as the state of Nevada… Read More

Gates Foundation gives $23M to groups helping to keep college dream alive in the era of COVID-19

by Kurt Schlosser on August 20, 2020August 20, 2020 at 11:16 am

With all of the pandemic-related concerns around how children, parents and educators will deal with in-person or remote learning this fall, Bill Gates says it is important to look ahead,… Read More

Fred Hutch study: Here’s what it would take to reopen schools safely during the pandemic

by Kurt Schlosser on August 17, 2020August 17, 2020 at 2:56 pm

New research led by Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center outlines the steps needed to safely reopen schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Widespread testing, contact tracing and case isolation would… Read More

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Fred Hutch and Allen Institute launch study of milder COVID-19 cases, aiming for unique insights

by Todd Bishop on August 13, 2020August 13, 2020 at 3:13 pm

Many researchers have been seeking to better understand COVID-19 by investigating severe cases of the disease, but a new study launched by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Allen… Read More

‘How long can we hold on?’ As Zillow workers stay remote, businesses near Seattle HQ fight to survive

by John Cook & Kurt Schlosser on August 6, 2020August 6, 2020 at 11:45 am

It’s 8:20 a.m. at the corner of Second Avenue and Union Street in downtown Seattle. The buzz of the city is noticeably absent. A few construction workers stand idly by,… Read More

How Seattle sock startup Strideline pivoted to masks — and dealt with an unfortunate misstep

by Kurt Schlosser on August 5, 2020August 4, 2020 at 11:21 pm

As part of a pivot during the pandemic, to ensure that it could avoid major layoffs and stay in business, Seattle sock company Strideline turned to making masks. Since the… Read More

Howard Schultz and more than 100 CEOs urge Congress to save small businesses with relief bill

by Kurt Schlosser on August 3, 2020August 3, 2020 at 12:11 pm

As negotiations to reach a deal on a coronavirus aid package stall and restart in Washington, D.C., more than 100 leaders of businesses big and small are urging politicians to… Read More

Months after moving into deluxe new office, Seattle startup Zipwhip extends remote work a year

by Kurt Schlosser on July 31, 2020July 31, 2020 at 12:26 pm

Last fall, Zipwhip employees were settling into a sprawling new office space with sunset views of the Seattle waterfront and Olympic Mountains. The 75,000-square-foot space provided the startup a chance… Read More

Zillow to allow 90% of employees to work from home indefinitely as pandemic ‘debunks’ old ways

by Kurt Schlosser on July 29, 2020July 30, 2020 at 10:54 am

Zillow Group introduced a new policy on Wednesday allowing about 90% of its employees the option of working from home, at least some of the time, indefinitely. It significantly extends… Read More

Seattle joins regional cities and counties in allowing public sector employees to work remotely into 2021

by Kurt Schlosser on July 28, 2020July 28, 2020 at 11:59 am

Public sector employees throughout the Seattle region who have the ability to do their jobs remotely will be able to continue doing so until January 2021 to help prevent the… Read More

Protective face shields made with help of Prime Air drone engineers now for sale at cost on Amazon

by Kurt Schlosser on July 28, 2020July 28, 2020 at 8:49 am

A protective face shield made by 3D printing enthusiasts in Washington state, with the help of Amazon Prime Air drone engineers, is now for sale on Amazon.com. Amazon is selling… Read More

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Air Force goes with BlackSky’s Spectra AI platform to track impact of COVID-19

by Alan Boyle on July 21, 2020July 21, 2020 at 5:32 pm

BlackSky, a satellite data venture with offices in Seattle, says it’s won a U.S. Air Force contract to track the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on military interests worldwide. The… Read More

New UW COVID-19 study will test 7k people across WA state, funded by $3.4M from Allen Foundation

by Todd Bishop on July 21, 2020July 21, 2020 at 11:22 am

The University of Washington will test a random sample of 7,000 people across Washington state for COVID-19 and related antibodies multiple times over eight months in a new effort to… Read More

Washington state COVID-19 cases and testing hit new peak; scientists call it an ‘explosive situation’

by Todd Bishop on July 20, 2020July 20, 2020 at 10:47 am

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Washington state rose 71% over the past week, reaching a new weekly high of more than 6,800 reported cases, according to GeekWire’s calculations… Read More

First look: Space Needle spends $1M on UV gates and other tech in ambitious reopening plan

by Kurt Schlosser on July 15, 2020July 16, 2020 at 8:04 am

The bar for reopening businesses and attractions to the public during the coronavirus pandemic has been set — and it’s 600 feet high. Seattle’s iconic Space Needle has invested $1… Read More

Univ. of Washington will move 80% of classes online this fall amid looming threats from COVID and ICE

by Monica Nickelsburg on July 8, 2020July 8, 2020 at 12:23 pm

The University of Washington’s leaders — and their colleagues across the country — are walking a tightrope as they plan for the fall term amid rising coronavirus cases and controversial… Read More

Seattle’s Tom Douglas closing two restaurants near Amazon as pandemic keeps tech workers at home

by Kurt Schlosser on July 8, 2020July 8, 2020 at 10:47 am

Seattle restaurateur Tom Douglas is closing down two of his restaurants in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood, home to Amazon and thousands of tech workers, as the prolonged effects of… Read More

Washington state reports 700+ new COVID-19 cases, highest daily total since outbreak began

by Todd Bishop on July 2, 2020July 2, 2020 at 10:03 pm

Washington state is seeing a continued resurgence of COVID-19, reporting a record 728 confirmed cases on Thursday, the highest daily total yet in the state that was the first known… Read More

Amazon reportedly postponing Prime Day until October

by Monica Nickelsburg on July 2, 2020July 2, 2020 at 3:32 pm

Amazon is once again postponing Prime Day, the company’s annual sales event, due to the coronavirus. Amazon informed sellers of the delay this week, according to reports from Business Insider… Read More

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Tech friendly FlixBus on the road again between Seattle and Portland with new safety measures

by Kurt Schlosser on June 30, 2020June 30, 2020 at 12:56 pm

FlixBus, the tech friendly bus service that can connect riders between Seattle and Portland for just $14.99, is returning to service after suspending operations in the U.S. because of the… Read More

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Public health officials do a reality check on Elon Musk’s tweets about COVID-19 tests

by Alan Boyle on June 29, 2020June 29, 2020 at 10:06 pm

Billionaire Elon Musk knows his stuff when it comes to rockets or electric cars. But does that translate into epidemiological expertise? Not completely, according to Washington state’s coronavirus trackers. Musk… Read More

Bill Gates says pandemic could get ‘worse than I would have expected’ — and calls for leadership

by Alan Boyle on June 29, 2020July 1, 2020 at 11:04 pm

Tech leaders typically use their TED talks to sketch out an optimistic vision of the future, but today Bill Gates used his to warn about a rough autumn ahead due… Read More

Amazon will pay $500M in bonuses to workers powering the company through the pandemic

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 29, 2020June 29, 2020 at 10:53 am

Amazon will pay $500 million in bonuses to frontline workers and delivery partners confronting risks and high demand during the pandemic. Dave Clark, head of Amazon’s worldwide operations business, announced… Read More

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COVID-19 cases soar again in Wash. state; Inslee accuses Trump and Pence of ignoring U.S. crisis

by Todd Bishop on June 28, 2020June 29, 2020 at 9:41 am

A total of 3,180 cases of COVID-19 were reported across Washington state in the past seven days, approaching the weekly totals seen at the previous height of the outbreak in… Read More

Sentinel Healthcare extends its COVID-19 tracking system to retirement communities

by Alan Boyle on June 26, 2020June 26, 2020 at 9:54 am

As concerns about a resurgence of the coronavirus outbreak are widening, so is the reach of the COVID-19 tracking platform created by Sentinel Healthcare, a Seattle-based medical data startup. The… Read More

Amazon workers renew call for transparency as public health officials disclose new COVID cases

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 24, 2020June 24, 2020 at 3:08 pm

Pressure is building on Amazon to release data on the prevalence of COVID-19 among its employees as new cases come to light among warehouse workers. Since the beginning of the… Read More

News Brief

Pandemic projections suggest requiring masks could save 33,000 lives in U.S.

by Alan Boyle on June 24, 2020June 24, 2020 at 2:00 pm

Sonos cuts 12% of workforce due to pandemic; impact on Seattle engineering office not yet clear

by Kurt Schlosser on June 24, 2020June 24, 2020 at 10:17 am

Speaker-maker Sonos, which has a large presence in downtown Seattle, announced Tuesday that it is cutting 12 percent of its global workforce due to uncertainty and challenges stemming from the… Read More

Washington mandates masks in public statewide as COVID-19 cases rise

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 23, 2020June 23, 2020 at 4:37 pm

Washington state will require all residents to wear face coverings in public to slow the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday. The mask mandate takes effect Friday and… Read More

News Brief

Institute halts COVID-19 clinical trial for hydroxychloroquine due to low enrollment

by Alan Boyle on June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 at 11:47 am

Seattle area sees new spike in COVID-19 cases, weekly count up for 1st time in more than 2 months

by Todd Bishop on June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 at 9:35 am

More than 400 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Seattle and King County in the past week, up nearly 70% from the week before, according to GeekWire’s calculations from… Read More

News Brief

Comcast offers 60 days of free broadband for low-income families in Washington state through 2020

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 18, 2020June 25, 2020 at 11:53 pm

Video

Paul G. Allen Family Foundation donates $2.2M to COVID-19 causes (with an assist from Amazon)

by Alan Boyle on June 18, 2020June 18, 2020 at 3:51 pm

The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announced two contributions to support people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Washington state, adding up to $2.2 million. The foundation is contributing $1… Read More

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Perseverance rover will go to Mars with a monument to COVID-19 medical teams

by Alan Boyle on June 17, 2020June 17, 2020 at 6:01 pm

When NASA’s Perseverance rover lands in Mars’ Jezero Crater next February, it’ll be carrying a tribute to the medical community and their work to quell the coronavirus pandemic. A 3-by-5-inch… Read More

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Researchers want to pick up the pace on early testing and treatment for COVID-19

by Alan Boyle on June 16, 2020June 16, 2020 at 5:12 pm

Scientists from Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington say the search for COVID-19 treatments should widen its focus from hospitalized patients to people who are… Read More

News Brief

British study suggests that a low-cost steroid could reduce COVID-19 death rate

by Alan Boyle on June 16, 2020June 16, 2020 at 3:20 pm

Video

Amazon’s ‘Distance Assistant’ uses augmented reality to show workers if they’re far enough apart

by Todd Bishop on June 16, 2020June 16, 2020 at 7:45 am

Amazon is rolling out a system that uses sensors and a large-screen display to let workers see, in real time, if they’re maintaining proper social distancing. The “Distance Assistant,” unveiled… Read More

COVID-19 projections show higher death tolls ahead as restrictions are lifted

by Alan Boyle on June 15, 2020June 15, 2020 at 8:28 pm

The latest projections for the course of the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. suggest that there’s going to be an upswing in the daily death toll, but they differ in… Read More

News Brief

Teague’s AirShield ventilation design aims to reduce COVID-19 risk for air travelers

by Alan Boyle on June 15, 2020June 15, 2020 at 8:06 pm

FDA ends authorization to use hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 and issues warning, but trials go on

by Alan Boyle on June 15, 2020June 15, 2020 at 3:04 pm

The Food and Drug Administration today revoked its emergency authorization for two related antimalarial drugs, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, to be used for treating COVID-19. Citing emerging scientific data, the FDA… Read More

COVID-19 transmission in Seattle region rises back above key threshold, new estimates show

by Todd Bishop on June 13, 2020June 15, 2020 at 10:39 am

Transmission of COVID-19 is back on the rise in the Seattle region and other parts of Washington state, again exceeding the threshold needed to further stem the spread of the… Read More

Latest testing shows no big spike in COVID-19 cases due to protests, as thousands wear masks

by Alan Boyle on June 12, 2020June 12, 2020 at 5:50 pm

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s office says it’s seeing no evidence so far that protesters are testing positive for COVID-19 at higher rates than normal after attending protests. In an online… Read More

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Photos: Inside an Amazon fulfillment center, masked up and spaced apart during COVID-19

by Kurt Schlosser on June 12, 2020June 12, 2020 at 10:22 am

KENT, Wash. — So long, door desk. Hello, plexiglass-enclosed roaming human help desk. Not far from where hundreds of robots were buzzing about the floor of Amazon’s sprawling BFI4 fulfillment… Read More

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Amid COVID-19 pandemic, experts lay out 10-point plan for a genomic revolution in public health

by Alan Boyle on June 11, 2020June 11, 2020 at 8:55 pm

From the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, genetic sleuths have been at the forefront in the global effort to monitor SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. By comparing the… Read More

News Brief

Adaptive Biotechnologies and Microsoft team up to track coronavirus-fighting cells

by Alan Boyle on June 11, 2020June 11, 2020 at 12:56 pm

Video

SCAN resumes community coronavirus testing after winning review board’s OK

by Alan Boyle on June 10, 2020June 10, 2020 at 3:53 pm

The Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network today resumed its at-home COVID-19 testing campaign, nearly a month after the program was suspended due to regulatory snags. Public Health – Seattle & King… Read More

News Brief

Coronavirus projections converge amid concerns about a pandemic resurgence

by Alan Boyle on June 9, 2020June 9, 2020 at 6:17 pm

Researchers gauge the effect of protests and reopenings on reviving the pandemic

by Alan Boyle on June 8, 2020June 9, 2020 at 9:41 am

Epidemiologists say the crowding conditions associated with mass protests over police violence seem likely to add dozens of people, or perhaps even hundreds, to the daily death toll from coronavirus… Read More

Video

Vaccine veterans preview milestones on the long road to the end of the pandemic

by Alan Boyle on June 5, 2020June 5, 2020 at 7:35 pm

A public-private partnership called Operation Warp Speed is aiming to get multiple vaccines approved by the end of the year to protect against COVID-19 — but two veterans of the… Read More

Warehouse workers sue Amazon over COVID-19 exposure after death of an employee’s relative

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 4, 2020June 4, 2020 at 9:31 am

Barbara Chandler believes she contracted COVID-19 in March at her job, working in an Amazon warehouse in New York where she experienced “a culture of workplace fear reinforced by constant… Read More

Video

Infectious Disease Research Institute is working on a multiplier effect for coronavirus vaccine

by Alan Boyle on June 2, 2020June 3, 2020 at 12:41 am

Seattle’s Infectious Disease Research Institute is working with Houston’s Baylor College of Medicine to multiply the doses of a potential COVID-19 vaccine by 30 to 100 times. Other partners in… Read More

Video

Ventec and GM, 2 months later: How a startup took on the ventilator shortage, and where it stands now

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 2, 2020November 21, 2020 at 10:27 am

Two months after President Donald Trump tapped a little-known Seattle-area medical device startup called Ventec Life Systems and automotive giant General Motors to help solve the nation’s ventilator shortage, the… Read More

Seattle City Council mandates paid sick time for gig workers during pandemic

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 2, 2020June 2, 2020 at 10:10 am

Drivers for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Grubhub, and other delivery services will soon be eligible for paid sick time off in Seattle while the city remains in a state of emergency… Read More

Video

Scientists trace the roundabout route that coronavirus took from bats and pangolins to people

by Alan Boyle on May 29, 2020May 29, 2020 at 6:35 pm

Two newly published studies shed light on the origins and spread of the coronavirus pandemic, starting with bats and pangolins in China and ending up with New York’s dramatically deadly… Read More

Washington state loosens restrictions for phased opening as shutdown order approaches expiration

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 29, 2020May 29, 2020 at 3:35 pm

Counties across Washington state will enter a phased re-opening program Monday as Gov. Jay Inslee’s “stay-home” order expires. Inslee announced new rules Friday that will replace the shutdown order with… Read More

Researchers revise their timeline for the coronavirus’ rise in Washington state

by Alan Boyle on May 28, 2020May 28, 2020 at 5:52 pm

Epidemiologists are coming around to the view that the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S., involving a Snohomish County traveler who got sick in mid-January, may not have… Read More

News Brief

Amazon will offer permanent jobs to 70% of workers hired in response to the pandemic

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 28, 2020May 28, 2020 at 8:12 am

News Brief

Amazon to sponsor virtual concert for COVID-19 relief featuring Pearl Jam, Macklemore and others

by Kurt Schlosser on May 27, 2020June 4, 2020 at 4:31 pm

News Brief

‘The Fight Is In Us’ blood plasma campaign deploys Microsoft bot in search of COVID-19 antibodies

by Todd Bishop on May 26, 2020May 26, 2020 at 7:32 am

COVID-19 weekly deaths drop another 40% in Seattle area, cases reach lowest total in two months

by Todd Bishop on May 25, 2020May 25, 2020 at 8:10 am

Seattle and King County reported 15 deaths from COVID-19 during the past week, down 40% from the week before, while the number of confirmed cases in the region fell to… Read More

After crises and confusion, health officials are closing the coronavirus testing gap

by Alan Boyle on May 25, 2020May 25, 2020 at 9:42 am

Ten days after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee took the Trump administration to task for failing to send enough supplies for coronavirus test kits, public health officials say the gap is… Read More

Video

Coronavirus contact tracing is ramping up, along with online training to fill the gap

by Alan Boyle on May 23, 2020May 22, 2020 at 8:48 pm

The Washington State Department of Health is in the early stages of a massive effort to interview COVID-19 patients and track down those who might have been infected by those… Read More

News Brief

Review of thousands of COVID-19 cases suggests higher death risk with hydroxychloroquine

by Alan Boyle on May 22, 2020June 4, 2020 at 12:31 pm

Remote reckoning: Tech companies face tough trade-offs as WFH becomes permanent reality

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 22, 2020July 8, 2020 at 3:48 pm

Fifty percent of Facebook’s workforce could permanently shift to remote work in the next 5-10 years, CEO Mark Zuckerberg told employees on Thursday. It’s a staggering statistic for a company… Read More

Fred Hutch’s president says a new strain of virus research center is needed to fight future outbreaks

by Alan Boyle on May 21, 2020May 22, 2020 at 10:27 am

Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center already has dozens of scientists working on infectious diseases, including COVID-19 — but the center’s president and director, Thomas Lynch, says the research community… Read More

News Brief

Rad Power Bikes fields 297% spike in demand as bicycle sales surge

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 19, 2020May 19, 2020 at 11:50 am

News Brief

Amazon delivers 100M supplies to healthcare organizations and governments fighting COVID-19

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 19, 2020May 19, 2020 at 8:10 am

News Brief

Trump says he’s taking hydroxychloroquine, a drug being tested in two studies at Univ. of Washington

by Alan Boyle on May 18, 2020May 18, 2020 at 6:44 pm

News Brief

Scientists say 17-year-old blood sample yields promising antibodies for COVID-19

by Alan Boyle on May 18, 2020May 18, 2020 at 10:35 am

News Brief

Positive news about Seattle-tested coronavirus vaccine sends stock market sharply higher

by Alan Boyle on May 18, 2020May 18, 2020 at 11:27 pm

Video

COVID-19 lessons from Iceland: How one Nordic country has all but stopped the virus in its tracks

by Todd Bishop on May 17, 2020May 17, 2020 at 12:24 pm

At first glance, Iceland’s COVID-19 statistics might seem contradictory. The Nordic island nation, perched in the North Atlantic, has reported more than 500 confirmed cases for every 100,000 people —… Read More

News Brief

Seattle and King County post lowest COVID-19 case and death counts in two months

by Todd Bishop on May 15, 2020May 15, 2020 at 4:40 pm

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella warns about the consequences of embracing remote work permanently

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 15, 2020May 17, 2020 at 9:15 pm

Microsoft is not taking the same financial beating as many of its peers due to the pandemic. Revenue jumped 15% in the first quarter of 2020, Microsoft Teams users increased… Read More

Video

UW Medicine ramps up study of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin for COVID-19 treatment

by Alan Boyle on May 14, 2020June 20, 2020 at 1:31 pm

One of the treatments that’s been talked up by President Donald Trump for COVID-19 — a combination of the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, an antibiotic — is the subject… Read More

Video

How Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant is changing its tone during the pandemic

by Alan Boyle on May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 at 6:17 pm

Alexa, do I need a coronavirus test? That’s a query that almost certainly was not in the repertoire for Amazon’s voice assistant six months ago. But the ins and outs… Read More

News Brief

Amazon wage and hazard pay increases for essential workers to expire in June

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 at 4:15 pm

Amazon is manufacturing hundreds of thousands of face shields to sell at cost

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 at 8:49 am

Amazon is manufacturing hundreds of thousands of face shields to sell to healthcare professionals battling COVID-19 and eventually offer to all customers on the company’s marketplace. Amazon says that its… Read More

Video

Coronavirus-tracking project backed by Bill Gates is put on hold due to FDA concerns

by Alan Boyle on May 13, 2020May 13, 2020 at 8:14 pm

The organizers of the Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network, a virus-tracking project supported by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, say their efforts are being paused while they deal with concerns raised by… Read More

News Brief

Public health officials are putting out the call for broader coronavirus testing

by Alan Boyle on May 13, 2020May 13, 2020 at 5:09 pm

After good results in Seattle, COVID-19 vaccine will face key trials this summer, Moderna CEO says

by Alan Boyle on May 12, 2020May 13, 2020 at 8:19 am

The coronavirus vaccine trial that started out in Seattle is progressing well enough to get onto Food and Drug Administration’s fast track for development, with planning well underway for the… Read More

News Brief

Washington state reveals contact tracing plan to support phased opening of business

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 12, 2020May 12, 2020 at 4:54 pm

AGs from 13 states probe Amazon on COVID-19 infections and deaths in warehouses

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 12, 2020May 12, 2020 at 4:23 pm

The top government lawyers in 13 states are calling on Amazon to release data on the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths among the tech giant’s workforce. The attorneys general… Read More

Adaptive Biotech revenue rises 65% to $21M, loss widens amid big COVID-19 immune partnerships

by Todd Bishop on May 12, 2020May 12, 2020 at 3:40 pm

Adaptive Biotechnologies, which is working with Microsoft and Amgen to fight COVID-19 using its technology for sequencing the human immune system, reported a 65% increase in first quarter revenue, to… Read More

Bill Gates says Gates Foundation ‘will end up spending a lot more’ to fight COVID-19

by Todd Bishop on May 12, 2020May 12, 2020 at 11:55 am

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation “will end up spending a lot more” than the $305 million it has pledged so far to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, Bill Gates tells… Read More

News Brief

President Trump tweets support for Elon Musk as Tesla reopens Calif. car factory amid pandemic

by Alan Boyle on May 12, 2020May 12, 2020 at 2:46 pm

News Brief

Boeing CEO tells NBC that pandemic is ‘likely’ to put a major U.S. airline out of business

by Alan Boyle on May 11, 2020May 12, 2020 at 11:29 am

Public Health directive urges Seattle-area residents to wear face coverings in most public settings

by Kurt Schlosser on May 11, 2020May 11, 2020 at 3:52 pm

A new directive from Public Health – Seattle & King County is strongly urging residents to wear face coverings when in public and a social distance of at least six… Read More

Video

Disease experts say it’s time to join forces to make coronavirus vaccines

by Alan Boyle on May 11, 2020May 11, 2020 at 5:10 pm

Unprecedented collaborations involving the biotech industry and government agencies are urgently needed to develop and produce the billions of doses of vaccine that will be needed to stop the coronavirus… Read More

Video

60 Minutes shows Amazon’s virus-killing robot; says company uses AI to enforce social distancing

by Todd Bishop on May 10, 2020May 11, 2020 at 12:00 am

Amazon is developing a robot that would roll through grocery stores and distribution centers, using banks of ultraviolet light to kill viruses on surfaces. The company provided “60 Minutes” with… Read More

Statistician argues that COVID-19 figures hint at ‘staggering number’ of deaths ahead

by Alan Boyle on May 8, 2020May 8, 2020 at 6:38 pm

In a newly published study, a University of Washington researcher argues that the eventual death toll from COVID-19 could be more than twice as high as the figures currently being… Read More

Washington state adds hundreds of WiFi hotspots with funding from Microsoft

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 8, 2020May 8, 2020 at 3:59 pm

Washington state is deploying more than 300 “drive-in” WiFi hotspots to help residents who are unable to access the internet due to the stay-home order. Microsoft and Avista Foundation helped… Read More

How Amazon’s Prime Air and robotics team is responding to coronavirus concerns

by Alan Boyle on May 8, 2020December 28, 2020 at 2:24 pm

For years, Amazon Prime Air has been working on drones that can deliver packages to customers, but now it’s also working on projects to help Amazon itself deal with the… Read More

Seattle venture capitalist Dan Levitan teams with his brothers to fight COVID-19 with unique project

by Kurt Schlosser on May 8, 2020May 8, 2020 at 8:40 am

The last time Dan Levitan worked on a project with his two brothers, Richard and Robert, they were in high school. In the time since, on opposite sides of the… Read More

Video

Gates Foundation CEO: US and China should smooth over their ‘divide’ on coronavirus crisis

by Alan Boyle on May 7, 2020May 8, 2020 at 6:00 pm

The CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is disappointed that the United States isn’t on the same page with other nations when it comes to fighting the coronavirus… Read More

Seattle healthcare workers to receive first respirators built by Ford and 3M

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 7, 2020May 7, 2020 at 8:34 am

Healthcare workers at Seattle’s Virginia Medical Center will be the first to receive respirators built by Ford Motors, which pivoted in March to begin developing personal protective equipment as COVID-19… Read More

Studies of coronavirus evolution stir up a controversy for scientists on social media

by Alan Boyle on May 5, 2020May 6, 2020 at 7:31 am

Is the coronavirus behind COVID-19 turning into a more insidious pathogen? Or are such claims overblown? A fast-moving debate over virus evolution illustrates how not-yet-vetted reports about the course of… Read More

Microsoft updates WFH policy, lets employees work remotely through October

by Taylor Soper on May 5, 2020May 5, 2020 at 8:18 pm

Microsoft is giving employees the option to work remotely through October after revising its WFH policy this week. “On May 4th we confirmed that when restrictions lift, working from home… Read More

Ex-Amazon employee sues for wrongful termination, claims coronavirus whistleblowing led to firing

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 5, 2020May 5, 2020 at 6:43 pm

A former Amazon employee is suing the company, claiming she was wrongfully terminated after taking time off to recover from COVID-19-like symptoms and sounding the alarm about safety concerns inside… Read More

Video

Microsoft and Adaptive launch quest for new COVID-19 test, seek 1k people for immune study

by Todd Bishop on May 5, 2020May 5, 2020 at 10:55 am

Microsoft and Seattle’s Adaptive Biotechnologies are seeking 1,000 people across the country for a “virtual clinical study” designed to better understand how the human immune system responds to COVID-19. Their… Read More

New pandemic projection puts U.S. death toll at nearly 135,000, due to less social distancing

by Alan Boyle on May 4, 2020May 11, 2020 at 12:19 pm

The latest projection from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Modeling and Evaluation says the coronavirus pandemic will claim nearly 135,000 lives in the U.S. by August, in part… Read More

Gates Foundation commits $50M to COVID-19 vaccine initiative, total funding now tops $300M

by Todd Bishop on May 4, 2020May 4, 2020 at 10:14 am

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation committed an additional $50 million in funding for the GAVI vaccine alliance to address issues related to COVID-19, focusing on efforts to distribute future… Read More

New data: Washington state COVID-19 weekly fatalities dip below 100 for first time in a month

by Todd Bishop on May 3, 2020May 4, 2020 at 6:00 am

A total of 92 people died from COVID-19 in the past week in Washington state, about half the number at the peak three weeks ago, the latest official numbers show.… Read More

Video

NASA and SpaceX get set to make history with landmark spaceflight during pandemic

by Alan Boyle on May 1, 2020May 1, 2020 at 7:04 pm

Everything is in readiness for the first mission to send humans into orbit from U.S. soil since NASA retired the space shuttle fleet in 2011 – from the SpaceX Crew… Read More

Video

Washington state’s ‘stay home’ order extended through May 31 — here’s the underlying data

by Todd Bishop on May 1, 2020May 1, 2020 at 4:16 pm

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is extending the state’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order for another month, through May 31, pointing to progress in combating COVID-19 but warning that the disease… Read More

News Brief

Antiviral drug remdesivir wins FDA’s authorization for wider use in COVID-19 treatment

by Alan Boyle on May 1, 2020May 18, 2020 at 1:16 am

Amazon gives employees option to work from home until “at least” early October under new guidelines

by Todd Bishop on April 30, 2020April 30, 2020 at 7:00 pm

Amazon will give employees the option to do their jobs from home until at least early October — extending its remote work guidance by several months. The move by the… Read More

Video

Bill Gates says the world will need 7 billion vaccine doses to end COVID-19 pandemic

by Alan Boyle on April 30, 2020April 30, 2020 at 12:12 pm

Bill Gates has been big on vaccines since before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, but in a new blog posting, the Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist says the only… Read More

Washington state unemployment claims jump 75% as startups brace for slowdown

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 30, 2020April 30, 2020 at 11:46 am

Washington state jobless claims surged last week as federally backed, expanded unemployment benefits became available for the first time. Some 145,757 Washington residents filed for unemployment, an increase of more… Read More

Video

Antiviral drug remdesivir is taking the spotlight in the search for COVID-19 cures

by Alan Boyle on April 29, 2020April 29, 2020 at 4:45 pm

An antiviral drug called remdesivir got a strong vote of confidence today from one of the most prominent figures in the battle against the coronavirus outbreak. “The data shows that… Read More

Amazon faces mounting pressure from workers, officials over pandemic response ahead of May Day

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 28, 2020April 28, 2020 at 11:28 am

A growing coalition of workers and government officials is putting pressure on Amazon to reform its COVID-19 policies ahead of the biggest labor organizing day of the year. The latest:… Read More

Ready to return to the office? Seattle employers offer advice in Madrona’s ‘Back to Work Toolkit’

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 28, 2020April 28, 2020 at 2:36 pm

More than 600 people signed up to hear guidance on reopening their workplaces during a Madrona Venture Group virtual event Monday afternoon, a sign of the growing interest in returning… Read More

Coronavirus modelers raise projected U.S. death toll and lengthen state-by-state recovery timeline

by Alan Boyle on April 27, 2020April 30, 2020 at 6:15 pm

The timeline has slipped to the right and the projected death toll has trended upward in a new projection from the creators of a closely watched computer model for the… Read More

Video

Social distancing needs to be more stringent to avoid COVID-19 rebound, experts say

by Alan Boyle on April 27, 2020April 27, 2020 at 4:35 pm

Although many states are starting to relax restrictions on business activity and contacts, Seattle-area epidemiologists say such restrictions will need to be tightened up to reduce the spread of coronavirus… Read More

Video

CVS and UPS team up for drone deliveries to retirees amid coronavirus outbreak

by Alan Boyle on April 27, 2020April 27, 2020 at 11:20 am

UPS’ drone subsidiary and the CVS pharmacy chain say they’ll start delivering prescription medicines to the nation’s largest retirement community next month, using Matternet’s M2 drone delivery system. The service,… Read More

Video

Top Seattle-area health official worries COVID-19 could spread across country as states reopen

by Todd Bishop on April 27, 2020April 27, 2020 at 10:23 am

COVID-19 knows no borders, and as several US states start to reopen their economies following extended shutdowns, officials in Seattle and Washington state are concerned that the disease could spread… Read More

Coronavirus computer modelers revise their dates for easing state shutdowns

by Alan Boyle on April 24, 2020May 25, 2020 at 7:42 pm

The latest computer projections from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation deliver a double dose of discouragement about the course of the coronavirus outbreak, especially for… Read More

Video

UW Medicine to conduct clinical trial for hydroxychloroquine with COVID patients

by Alan Boyle on April 24, 2020April 24, 2020 at 6:57 pm

The University of Washington School of Medicine is looking for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to participate in a clinical trial aimed at finding out whether a controversial… Read More

PBS Frontline contrasts state and federal response to coronavirus crisis in ‘a tale of two Washingtons’

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 24, 2020April 24, 2020 at 10:52 am

When the first COVID-19 case in the U.S. was discovered in Seattle, officials in Washington state quickly realized they would have to design their own response to the crisis. From… Read More

Software tools for mining COVID-19 research studies go viral among scientists

by Alan Boyle on April 23, 2020April 23, 2020 at 4:40 pm

One month after the debut of the COVID-19 Open Research Dataset, or CORD-19, the database of coronavirus-related research papers has doubled in size – and has given rise to more… Read More

News Brief

Washington’s new jobless claims dip but state officials warn it’s ‘the calm before the storm’

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 23, 2020April 23, 2020 at 11:07 am

Big Tech’s reputation is rising as governments tap the industry in coronavirus response

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 23, 2020April 23, 2020 at 11:11 am

The coronavirus crisis quickly became an unexpected life raft for the technology industry’s image as even its biggest critics enlist Big Tech’s help. The scale of large technology companies —… Read More

Bill Gates on life after lockdown, and what it will really take to defeat ‘the first modern pandemic’

by Todd Bishop on April 23, 2020April 23, 2020 at 12:06 pm

Bill Gates, who predicted this pandemic five years ago, is now turning his attention to what’s next — and the simplest way to describe it, he says, is “semi-normal.” People… Read More

Video

Bride and Zoom: Seattle couple marries in backyard with officiant and wedding guests on video call

by Kurt Schlosser on April 22, 2020April 22, 2020 at 4:55 pm

Last Friday night, on the eve of what was to be their wedding day, Zac Simon and Nora Downs of Seattle were lamenting the cancellation of their special day due… Read More

With high-tech rooms at home, Seahawks ready for remote NFL draft and AWS helps power entire event

by Kurt Schlosser on April 22, 2020April 23, 2020 at 7:43 pm

Teams across the National Football League, familiar with the dreaded prospect of dropped passes or fumbled handoffs, are hoping dropped calls and missed connections over the internet aren’t the norm… Read More

Video

Bill Gates talks to students around the world about pandemic, studying and more in Code.org session

by Kurt Schlosser on April 22, 2020April 22, 2020 at 12:18 pm

Like many people working from home these days, Bill Gates hopped on a Zoom call Wednesday morning. The Microsoft co-founder just happened to be joining thousands of students from across… Read More

Should you buy or sell a home during the pandemic? Here’s what Redfin’s CEO advises

by Taylor Soper on April 22, 2020April 22, 2020 at 10:10 am

Buyers, seek opportunity. Sellers, hold off. That’s the advice from Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman as questions swirl about the real estate market amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview with… Read More

Video

UW and Microsoft release contact-tracing app, aiming to battle COVID-19 while preserving privacy

by Lisa Stiffler on April 22, 2020April 22, 2020 at 9:59 am

Microsoft and University of Washington researchers have teamed up on a new app that promises to alert people automatically if they’ve been in close proximity to someone infected by COVID-19,… Read More

Washington plans 1,500-person contact tracing team as governor outlines re-opening strategy

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 21, 2020April 21, 2020 at 6:00 pm

Washington state plans to have 1,500 people conducting contact tracing by mid-May in an effort to map and control the spread of COVID-19 as the economy re-opens. Washington Gov. Jay… Read More

Washington’s governor appeals to VP Mike Pence for more COVID-19 testing supplies

by Alan Boyle on April 21, 2020May 25, 2020 at 7:46 pm

In a strongly worded letter, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee told Vice President Mike Pence today that the state has “nowhere near” the coronavirus testing capability needed to begin initiating pandemic… Read More

Cosmetic treatment review startup RealSelf cuts staff as elective medical procedures are put on hold

by Taylor Soper on April 21, 2020April 21, 2020 at 2:18 pm

RealSelf is the latest tech startup to cut staff as the COVID-19 crisis forces businesses across various industries to slash expenses in order to survive. The company did not say… Read More

Good news for startups? Congress strikes deal to replenish small business relief fund with $310B

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 21, 2020May 11, 2020 at 3:19 pm

Congressional lawmakers agreed Tuesday to provide $484 billion to refill the coffers of a small business relief fund, expand testing for COVID-19, and send money to hospitals. The bill is… Read More

NPD data: Nintendo Switch sales double in March and Animal Crossing breaks records

by Taylor Soper on April 21, 2020April 21, 2020 at 12:28 pm

Sales of the Nintendo Switch console doubled year-over-year in March, according to the latest U.S. numbers from The NPD Group. The data confirms spiking interest and time spent playing with… Read More

Video

UW Medicine calls a halt to use of donated coronavirus test kits amid quality concerns

by Alan Boyle on April 20, 2020April 20, 2020 at 3:40 pm

The University of Washington School of Medicine has alerted Seattle-King County public health officials and other partners to stop using a donated supply of specimen collection kits for coronavirus testing,… Read More

Volunteers launch database for COVID-19 test centers across U.S. and run it like a tech startup

by Kurt Schlosser on April 20, 2020April 23, 2020 at 9:00 am

When Tarryn Marcus set out to create a comprehensive database of COVID-19 testing centers across the United States, her call for volunteers to help build it drew more than 120… Read More

News Brief

Bing makes COVID-19 dataset available to academia and research, creates GoFundMe module

by Taylor Soper on April 20, 2020April 20, 2020 at 12:33 pm

Video

Microsoft creates Plasma Bot to boost COVID-19 therapy development effort

by Alan Boyle on April 20, 2020April 20, 2020 at 11:24 am

Microsoft is teaming up with the world’s leading plasma companies to streamline the process of developing an antibody-based therapy for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. The Seattle-area software giant’s… Read More

Washington state unemployment site buckles under demand as thousands attempt to file jobless claims

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 20, 2020April 20, 2020 at 1:15 pm

Out of work Washingtonians reported frustrating delays over the weekend as they sought to file jobless claims. Washington state opened applications for new federally financed unemployment programs Saturday night, but… Read More

Startup survival: PPP loans provide lifeline for some, leave others frustrated and ‘helpless’

by Taylor Soper on April 20, 2020April 21, 2020 at 4:34 pm

Rita Hansen was losing sleep and grappling with anxiety. Like many small business owners and startup CEOs, she spent the past several weeks submitting applications and waiting nervously for federal… Read More

Video

Another month? Computer modelers estimate how much longer coronavirus shutdowns should last

by Alan Boyle on April 17, 2020April 18, 2020 at 10:58 am

The University of Washington epidemiologists who set up a widely watched model projecting the future course of the coronavirus outbreak have translated those projections into suggested time frames for loosening… Read More

Risky business: Scientists seek volunteers for ‘CovidWatch’ virus-tracking study

by Alan Boyle on April 17, 2020April 17, 2020 at 4:12 pm

Are you at risk of getting COVID-19? You may be just the kind of person researchers at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is looking for, to help them learn… Read More

Video

Univ. of Washington ramps up Abbott Labs’ ‘fantastic’ test for COVID-19 antibodies

by Alan Boyle on April 17, 2020April 18, 2020 at 11:56 am

The University of Washington School of Medicine’s Virology Lab is reporting encouraging results from trial runs of a new test from Abbott Laboratories that detects the antibodies created by people… Read More

Seattle researchers report early results from first US ‘swab and send’ COVID-19 surveillance program

by Todd Bishop on April 17, 2020April 17, 2020 at 4:57 pm

Updated below with details from news conference. Early results from a first-of-its-kind at-home testing program for COVID-19, analyzing more than 4,000 nasal samples sent in from across the Seattle region,… Read More

On-demand laundry startup Loopie launches Shippie, a delivery service born out of lockdown

by Kurt Schlosser on April 17, 2020April 17, 2020 at 9:16 am

Loopie launched two years ago as way to connect people who don’t want to do their own laundry with people who will do it for a fee. Now the people… Read More

Amazon employees organize virtual walkout over firings, warehouse conditions

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 17, 2020April 17, 2020 at 8:32 am

Current and former Amazon employees are encouraging tech workers at the company to participate in a “virtual walkout” next week to protest recent firings and conditions inside fulfillment centers. The… Read More

Video

Bill Gates to talk computer science and coronavirus on ‘Code Break,’ Code.org’s interactive classroom

by Kurt Schlosser on April 17, 2020April 16, 2020 at 9:38 pm

Code.org, the non-profit whose goal is to teach computer science to every child in America, is bringing an especially computer savvy guest to “Code Break,” which it calls the world’s… Read More

Video

After coronavirus shutdown, Boeing will resume commercial airplane production starting next week

by Alan Boyle on April 16, 2020April 17, 2020 at 10:21 am

Boeing says it’s planning to resume all commercial airplane production in the Seattle region starting next week, more than three weeks after operations were shut down due to the coronavirus… Read More

Video

How coronavirus testing and contact tracing work together to quell COVID-19

by Alan Boyle on April 16, 2020April 16, 2020 at 2:15 pm

Checking back to see who’s been in contact with newly identified patients with an infectious disease is a standard technique for containing an epidemic, but experts argue that it’s particularly… Read More

Seattle startup Glow organizes ‘Podapalooza,’ a virtual podcast festival, as a COVID-19 benefit

by Kurt Schlosser on April 16, 2020April 16, 2020 at 11:52 am

If you’ve been stuck at home consuming all manner of media during the COVID-19 pandemic, add a virtual podcast festival to your list of what to listen to next. Podapalooza… Read More

Starbucks CEO lays out plan for ‘next phase’ as coffee giant looks to reopen U.S. stores

by Taylor Soper on April 16, 2020April 16, 2020 at 10:09 am

Starbucks is entering a “monitor and adapt” stage as it aims to reopen stores in the U.S. The company will open a “significant” number of coffee shops next month, Starbucks… Read More

Video

Face it, these mask-making efforts during the COVID-19 crisis reveal who we really are

by Kurt Schlosser on April 16, 2020May 26, 2020 at 9:36 am

It’s impossible to mask our appreciation for the stories of people and companies across Seattle and the Pacific Northwest going out of their way to help in any way possible… Read More

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos calls for regular COVID-19 testing ‘on a global scale across all industries’

by Taylor Soper on April 16, 2020April 21, 2020 at 3:24 pm

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos says that testing everyone regularly for COVID-19 — not just his own employees — will be key to helping the world bounce back from the novel… Read More

Video

Gates Foundation’s CEO worries about pandemic politics — and says ‘we have nothing to hide’

by Alan Boyle on April 15, 2020April 15, 2020 at 4:59 pm

Seattle’s Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is in the public health spotlight, thanks to its efforts to head off just the sort of global pandemic we’re now experiencing — but… Read More

Gates Foundation boosts COVID-19 funding to $250M, says defeating disease will take ‘unprecedented’ global cooperation

by Todd Bishop on April 15, 2020April 15, 2020 at 3:59 pm

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is designating an additional $150 million to the global fight against COVID-19, bringing its total funding to more than $250 million, and promising to… Read More

Video

Jeff Bezos and Satya Nadella join White House’s coronavirus industry groups

by Alan Boyle on April 15, 2020April 15, 2020 at 5:19 pm

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and President Donald Trump aren’t exactly the best of friends, but that didn’t stop the White House from including the world’s richest individual on a list… Read More

Hot tip: Friends launch ‘Seattle Tip Jar’ to help service industry workers during COVID-19

by Kurt Schlosser on April 15, 2020April 15, 2020 at 12:24 pm

Here’s a news tip for you: restaurant servers, bartenders, baristas and other service industry workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic could really use your help during the closure of the… Read More

Bill Gates calls Trump’s freeze on WHO funding ‘dangerous’ and tweet draws a viral response

by Kurt Schlosser on April 15, 2020April 15, 2020 at 4:33 pm

Bill Gates joined the chorus of people expressing shock and disappointment in President Trump’s announcement Tuesday that he would freeze U.S. funding for the World Health Organization. In a tweet… Read More

Video

Alaska Air signs on for payroll support as part of airlines’ $25B coronavirus bailout

by Alan Boyle on April 14, 2020May 11, 2020 at 4:51 pm

Seattle-based Alaska Airlines and nine other air carriers plan to participate in a $25 billion payroll assistance program that’s part of the coronavirus relief package signed into law last month,… Read More

First Amazon warehouse worker dies of COVID-19 as fulfillment center outbreaks mount

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 14, 2020April 15, 2020 at 7:44 am

The first known COVID-19 death among Amazon’s workforce occurred two weeks ago, the company said Tuesday. An operations manager at a fulfillment center in Southern California died from the virus… Read More

Is the outbreak widening or fading? Fresh analysis suggests that we’re ‘on the cusp’

by Alan Boyle on April 14, 2020April 14, 2020 at 4:15 pm

An updated analysis of COVID-19 case data and Facebook mobility data suggests that Seattle and King County are “on the cusp” between wider spread of the epidemic and a gradual… Read More

Seattle startup Remitly sees growth as COVID-19 crisis accelerates shift to digital remittances

by Taylor Soper on April 14, 2020April 14, 2020 at 12:40 pm

Many tech startups are laying off employees and facing steep revenue declines due to the COVID-19 crisis. That’s not the case for Remitly, a Seattle company that helps people send… Read More

Startup founder Jane Park ‘pivots with purpose’ as gift wrap maker Tokki shifts to face masks

by Kurt Schlosser on April 14, 2020April 14, 2020 at 10:36 am

Jane Park’s vision for wrapping gifts in eco-friendly fabrics with a digital twist has shifted to wrapping the faces of those looking to stay protected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Just… Read More

News Brief

Scientists say social distancing may need to stretch into 2022, but more research on immunity is needed

by Alan Boyle on April 14, 2020April 14, 2020 at 8:27 am

Federal agencies are setting aside billions for coronavirus research: Here’s a list

by Alan Boyle on April 14, 2020April 13, 2020 at 11:12 pm

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is playing a leading role in focusing the power of artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and other high-tech tools on the fight… Read More

Video

Univ. of Washington and SurveySignal study how tips help us cope with COVID-19

by Alan Boyle on April 13, 2020April 23, 2020 at 10:08 am

Can a daily dose of tips sent to your smartphone help you stay sane during a pandemic? That’s what a study planned by the University of Washington’s Center for the… Read More

Video

UW Medicine begins coronavirus testing for all patients admitted to its hospitals

by Alan Boyle on April 13, 2020April 13, 2020 at 4:29 pm

The University of Washington’s medical system says it’s begun testing all patients admitted to its hospitals for coronavirus. The change in policy recognizes the fact that some patients may carry… Read More

Feel like visiting ‘just one friend’ during COVID-19 lockdown? UW illustrates damage it could cause

by Kurt Schlosser on April 13, 2020April 13, 2020 at 2:09 pm

That desire you have to get together with just one friend, and break the social distancing barrier which has kept us all apart during the coronavirus outbreak, may seem like… Read More

Washington, Oregon and California to coordinate on plan to re-open economies and fight COVID-19

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 13, 2020April 14, 2020 at 11:58 am

West Coast states unveiled a unified approach to lifting lockdown orders and combating COVID-19 on Monday. The governors of Washington, Oregon, and California said they will only re-open their economies… Read More

Amazon fills 100k warehouse worker jobs, plans to hire 75k more to meet pandemic-driven demand

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 13, 2020April 14, 2020 at 8:42 am

Amazon added 100,000 new warehouse workers over the past month to help fulfill the surge in orders by customers sheltering at home. Amazon announced the newly filled positions Monday and… Read More

Experts share tips on how to staunch the coronavirus misinformation ‘infodemic’

by Lisa Stiffler on April 12, 2020April 14, 2020 at 2:05 pm

As we’re wading through the flood of information about the novel coronavirus, it’s difficult for even the most skeptical among us to sniff out truth from fiction 100% of the… Read More

Video

Drone video: See Microsoft’s sprawling HQ campus — with no workers in sight during COVID-19 crisis

by Kurt Schlosser on April 11, 2020April 11, 2020 at 10:42 am

The pathways and parking lots are empty. No one is seated at the outdoor tables or playing on the soccer field. Life on Microsoft’s sprawling Redmond, Wash., campus has all… Read More

News Brief

Boeing gets set to restart military aircraft production and 737 MAX maintenance

by Alan Boyle on April 11, 2020April 11, 2020 at 9:41 am

Taken out of the ball game, coaches go online to teach skills and aid Fred Hutch’s COVID-19 fight

by Kurt Schlosser on April 11, 2020April 10, 2020 at 4:51 pm

Tanner Swanson was a week away from starting his first full season in the Major Leagues as a member of the New York Yankees coaching staff. As the COVID-19 pandemic… Read More

Boeing ships out its first batch of face shields to protect COVID-19 medical teams

by Alan Boyle on April 10, 2020April 10, 2020 at 2:35 pm

Boeing has shut down airplane production until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it’s pushing forward with production of medical equipment to shut down the virus’ spread. The… Read More

Video

Scientists chart weak spots in coronavirus protein that antiviral drugs can target

by Alan Boyle on April 10, 2020April 10, 2020 at 12:09 pm

Chinese researchers say they’ve mapped out a key protein structure in the virus that causes COVID-19, including the likeliest target for the antiviral drug remdesivir. What’s more, they say that… Read More

In Seattle and across U.S., ‘Light It Blue’ campaign is a colorful ‘thank you’ to front-line workers

by Kurt Schlosser on April 10, 2020April 10, 2020 at 9:19 am

Buildings and landmarks across Seattle and the U.S. were awash in blue light on Thursday night as part of another campaign to show support for health care professionals and essential… Read More

King County public health officials will be distributing 20,000 coronavirus test kits

by Alan Boyle on April 9, 2020April 9, 2020 at 5:44 pm

To address a worrisome gap in testing for coronavirus, Seattle-King County public health officials say they’ll be distributing more than 20,000 test kits, prioritized for first responders, health care workers… Read More

Amazon redirects some employees to build out COVID-19 testing capacity for its front-line workers

by Kurt Schlosser on April 9, 2020April 9, 2020 at 3:03 pm

With thousands of its own workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic as warehouse workers, delivery personnel, grocery workers and more, Amazon isn’t waiting around for testing to… Read More

Video

Amid pandemic, Rebellyous Foods snares $6M for plant-based nuggets — and plans its next pivot

by Alan Boyle on April 9, 2020April 20, 2020 at 10:49 am

Seattle-based Rebellyous Foods says it has raised $6 million in investment for a production operation that turns a blend of wheat, soy and other plant products into nuggets that taste… Read More

Microsoft dedicates $20M from AI for Health program to COVID-19 data analysis

by Alan Boyle on April 9, 2020April 9, 2020 at 10:33 am

Microsoft says it’s immediately putting $20 million from its AI for Health program toward analytical tools that can help researchers and public health officials get a handle on the coronavirus… Read More

Two Seattle tech workers stick it to coronavirus with virtual ‘Gumwall’ to benefit restaurant workers

by Kurt Schlosser on April 9, 2020April 13, 2020 at 1:20 pm

Seattle’s famously gooey Gum Wall tourist attraction was scrubbed of an estimated 1 million pieces of chewing gum back in 2015. In 2020, visitors to a new website called Gumwall… Read More

COVID-19 deaths still growing exponentially in U.S. hot spots, Seattle startup finds in new data analysis

by Todd Bishop on April 8, 2020April 9, 2020 at 1:47 pm

Reflecting a sentiment being conveyed in some COVID-19 hotspots, Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey tweeted this week that the “curve is flattening” in the state’s COVID-19 crisis. But he… Read More

Video

Bill Gates says coronavirus will forever alter work, but face-to-face school is ‘totally irreplaceable’

by Kurt Schlosser on April 8, 2020April 8, 2020 at 12:21 pm

Bill Gates’ 1995 book “The Road Ahead” forecast the way personal computing and the internet would change everything about life as we knew it. On Wednesday, the Microsoft co-founder was… Read More

How AI is helping scientists in the fight against COVID-19, from robots to predicting the future

by Karina Mazhukhina on April 8, 2020April 9, 2020 at 10:51 am

Artificial intelligence is playing a part in each stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, from predicting the spread of the novel coronavirus to powering robots that can replace humans in hospital… Read More

Viral sensation: Seattle kid who built coronavirus website catches eye of a top Twitter tastemaker

by Kurt Schlosser on April 8, 2020April 8, 2020 at 9:11 am

Talk about going viral. Avi Schiffmann, the 17-year-old high school student from Mercer Island, Wash., just outside Seattle, started working on his coronavirus information website — ncov2019.live — in early… Read More

Blue Origin uses 3-D printers to make visors for medical face shields as well as rocket parts

by Alan Boyle on April 7, 2020April 7, 2020 at 6:56 pm

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture isn’t just turning out parts for rocket ships nowadays: It’s also using 25 of its additive manufacturing machines to turn out 3-D… Read More

News Brief

Microsoft ‘temporarily pausing recruitment’ for certain roles due to COVID-19 crisis

by Taylor Soper on April 7, 2020April 7, 2020 at 4:37 pm

Video

UW Medicine seeks 25,000 volunteers to try outbreak-predicting smartphone app

by Alan Boyle on April 7, 2020April 7, 2020 at 5:38 pm

Can a smartphone app generate an early warning for an outbreak of coronavirus, flu, colds or other infections? A project funded by the Pentagon with an assist from the University… Read More

COVID-19 crisis sparks ‘inflection point’ for online grocery — and huge revenue for Amazon

by Taylor Soper on April 7, 2020April 8, 2020 at 8:45 am

More people are ordering groceries online due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, leading to a permanent consumer purchasing shift — and a giant revenue boost for Amazon. That’s according to… Read More

News Brief

Washington state launches $5M grant program to help small businesses struggling under shutdown

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 7, 2020April 7, 2020 at 1:27 pm

Tech leaders help kick off $50M fundraising campaign for UW Medicine’s COVID-19 work

by Alan Boyle on April 7, 2020April 7, 2020 at 4:50 pm

The CEOs of Amazon and Microsoft are among thousands of people contributing to cover the $50 million in private support that the University of Washington School of Medicine expects to… Read More

Redfin lays off 7% of staff, furloughs hundreds of agents due to COVID-19 impact on housing demand

by Taylor Soper on April 7, 2020April 7, 2020 at 9:09 am

Redfin will cut 7% of its staff and furlough hundreds of agents due to decreased housing demand amid the COVID-19 crisis. The Seattle real estate giant will slash 41% of… Read More

Video

Multiple vaccines could be needed to fully stop COVID-19 pandemic, UW vaccinologist says

by Karina Mazhukhina on April 6, 2020April 6, 2020 at 7:23 pm

Although more than 40 organizations are developing the COVID-19 vaccine, only three have made it to human testing. Leading the way is Kaiser Permanente Washington Research Institute in Seattle, which began… Read More

Video

Couple puts out a call for used laptops and other devices to donate to Seattle students in need

by Kurt Schlosser on April 6, 2020April 6, 2020 at 2:47 pm

In his day job as the director of learning programs for Minecraft Education, Adam Tratt is out to inspire students and make sure they have the online tools to become… Read More

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture says three workers in Kent have tested positive for coronavirus

by Alan Boyle on April 6, 2020September 22, 2020 at 10:14 am

Three employees at Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture have tested positive for coronavirus and are now in quarantine, a spokeswoman for the company says. One case came… Read More

Seattle Children’s imaging expert uses CT scanner and 3D printing to replace vital equipment parts

by Kurt Schlosser on April 6, 2020April 29, 2020 at 2:11 pm

Along with the health care workers, delivery drivers, grocery store employees and many others being celebrated for their efforts on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak, save some applause… Read More

Video

Google location data for Seattle shows decline in work, transit and retail trips — but not park visits

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 6, 2020April 6, 2020 at 10:42 am

Seattle-area residents are taking Washington state’s social distancing mandate seriously. They have dramatically reduced trips to work, retail and restaurants, and transit stations, according to Google data. But Seattleites love… Read More

Video

‘The heart of our city is quiet’: Video shot through and above downtown Seattle captures emptiness

by Kurt Schlosser on April 6, 2020April 6, 2020 at 10:29 am

As painful as it is to witness the empty streets and boarded up storefronts in downtown Seattle and throughout the city, it’s helpful to understand that that emptiness is what… Read More

Video

Howard Schultz isn’t giving up on the ‘third place,’ but foresees lasting change in consumer behavior

by Todd Bishop on April 6, 2020April 6, 2020 at 10:10 am

Howard Schultz, the former Starbucks CEO, appeared on CNBC this morning to discuss the Schultz Family Foundation’s role in launching a new $4 million fund to provide cash payments to… Read More

Seattle restaurant delivery complaint in ‘reply all’ email turns into $10K donation to food charity

by Kurt Schlosser on April 6, 2020April 10, 2020 at 8:20 am

A dreaded “reply all” on an email featuring hundreds of people is usually enough to leave you with an upset stomach. But one customer’s message back to Seattle fine dining… Read More

News Brief

Bill Gates on FOX News: US can beat COVID-19 death projections with nationwide distancing and better testing

by Taylor Soper on April 5, 2020April 6, 2020 at 7:34 am

Guest Column: How this startup leader is thinking about and navigating the COVID-19 crisis

by Lucas Dickey on April 5, 2020April 5, 2020 at 7:34 pm

[Editor’s Note: This guest post by Lucas Dickey, co-founder of Fernish, appeared originally on tech news site dot.LA and is published on GeekWire as part of a partnership between our… Read More

News Brief

Boeing extends virus-related airplane production shutdown until further notice

by Alan Boyle on April 5, 2020April 6, 2020 at 2:13 pm

Adaptive Biotech’s deal with Amgen influenced by belief that COVID-19 may return seasonally, like flu

by Karina Mazhukhina on April 3, 2020April 3, 2020 at 12:45 pm

Despite a potential vaccine, the novel coronavirus could return on a seasonal basis, much like the flu, according to Seattle-based company Adaptive Biotechnologies. That’s one of the reasons Adaptive is… Read More

Video

Seattle tech veterans rush to build an app to trace COVID-19 exposure only to run into Apple rejection

by Kurt Schlosser on April 3, 2020April 3, 2020 at 3:35 pm

It turns out that two weeks of self isolation and social distancing is a good amount of time to build an app — especially if that app’s intention is to… Read More

Trouble for co-working industry: Seattle Impact Hall, formerly known as Impact Hub, shuts down

by Taylor Soper on April 3, 2020April 3, 2020 at 10:28 am

Seattle Impact Hall is shutting down in a potential warning sign for other co-working operators amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Formerly known as Impact Hub Seattle, the company launched back in… Read More

Video

Bill Gates on The Daily Show: US could reopen this summer, ‘but it won’t be completely normal’

by Taylor Soper on April 3, 2020April 3, 2020 at 1:42 am

Bill Gates continues to speak out on the COVID-19 crisis. The Microsoft co-founder on Thursday appeared on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, temporarily renamed The Daily Social Distancing Show.… Read More

Tech community sets up telehealth service directory in response to White House’s call

by Alan Boyle on April 2, 2020April 2, 2020 at 7:08 pm

Amazon Web Services and two tech industry groups have created a new online resource that lists dozens of digital health products, tools and services to help the health care industry… Read More

Amazon responds after leaked memo reveals company’s PR strategy against warehouse worker

by Taylor Soper on April 2, 2020April 2, 2020 at 11:02 pm

Amazon’s logistics chief penned a blog post Thursday, hours after a leaked memo revealed an unflattering glimpse into the company’s PR strategy toward a fired warehouse worker who organized a… Read More

Tableau launches online COVID-19 dashboard to gauge pandemic’s impact on business

by Karina Mazhukhina on April 2, 2020April 3, 2020 at 10:25 am

Seattle’s Tableau Software is helping companies gauge the impact of the pandemic on their businesses with its new interactive COVID-19 Data Hub dashboard. Companies can download free customized dashboards with… Read More

Washington governor extends ‘stay home’ order until May 4, says it’s ‘absolutely the soonest’ state could re-open

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 2, 2020April 6, 2020 at 10:29 am

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee extended the state’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order for an additional month Thursday. The rules, which shutter all non-essential businesses and forbid people from leaving their… Read More

Celularity and Infectious Disease Research Institute will try out COVID-19 cell therapy

by Alan Boyle on April 2, 2020April 2, 2020 at 5:32 pm

Seattle’s Infectious Disease Research Institute and a New Jersey company called Celularity have been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration to start trials of an experimental cell-based therapy for… Read More

Amid ‘rapidly evolving’ COVID-19 outbreak, Blue Origin’s launch plans spark debate

by Alan Boyle on April 2, 2020May 3, 2020 at 11:24 pm

Discussions about future launch plans for Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture have reportedly generated internal acrimony due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak — and that, in… Read More

Join GeekWire on Friday for a special virtual roundtable: What you need to know about the CARES Act

by Cara Kuhlman on April 2, 2020April 3, 2020 at 9:09 am

The coronavirus outbreak has moved quickly, and now the government and small businesses are working to do the same. Join GeekWire on Friday, April 3, at 11 a.m. for a… Read More

Amazon faces unprecedented challenges as dozens of warehouses grapple with COVID-19 outbreaks

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 2, 2020April 2, 2020 at 2:31 pm

At least 30 of the fulfillment centers that power Amazon’s e-commerce business have outbreaks of COVID-19, according to local news reports and employee accounts. The mounting cases are sparking walkouts, frustration,… Read More

Video

Boeing CEO says voluntary layoffs are on the way to adjust to ‘our new reality’ in hard-hit airplane market

by Alan Boyle on April 2, 2020April 2, 2020 at 2:29 pm

Boeing CEO David Calhoun says the company is preparing a voluntary layoff program that’s aimed at reducing the need for “other workforce actions” as it deals with the economic repercussions… Read More

Seattle robotics company steps in to help after UW student’s startup dream is stalled by COVID-19

by Kurt Schlosser on April 2, 2020April 2, 2020 at 12:25 pm

Rob Sinclair was excited to be taking time off from work and the corporate world to go back to school. With a desire to learn more about building a startup… Read More

The search for a COVID-19 cure: Amgen and Adaptive Biotech partner in quest for new drug

by Todd Bishop on April 2, 2020April 2, 2020 at 11:53 am

Pharmaceutical giant Amgen is aiming to develop a new drug to treat and prevent COVID-19, using insights from Seattle-based Adaptive Biotechnologies’ system for sequencing the human immune system, under an… Read More

Video

A protein puzzle game called Foldit turns up 99 promising ways to confound coronavirus

by Alan Boyle on April 1, 2020April 1, 2020 at 11:34 pm

Who would have thought a video game could identify potential treatments for COVID-19? Researchers at the University of Washington’s Institute for Protein Design certainly thought so, and so far the… Read More

Building a recession-era startup: 4 advantages and 1 annoying thing I learned

by Aaron Goldfeder on April 1, 2020April 1, 2020 at 3:29 pm

My startups seem to be timed with market collapses and Silicon Valley venture capital firm Sequoia sharing some kind of “end of days” message. Last time it was the Great… Read More

Seattle marketing software startup Usermind lays off 15 employees

by Taylor Soper on April 1, 2020April 1, 2020 at 5:30 pm

The layoffs continue hitting tech companies. Seattle marketing software startup Usermind said today it let go of 15 employees due to economic impact from the COVID-19 crisis. The cuts affected… Read More

Calling all COVID-19 survivors: UW Medicine and Bloodworks NW seek plasma for potential cures

by Alan Boyle on April 1, 2020April 1, 2020 at 4:04 pm

Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Bloodworks Northwest are putting out the call for people who have recovered from confirmed cases of COVID-19 to donate blood… Read More

Video

Microsoft helps Swedish Health Services develop COVID-19 app to track hospital resources

by Karina Mazhukhina on April 1, 2020April 1, 2020 at 2:29 pm

Microsoft and Swedish Health Services joined forces over the past two weeks to build an app that helps hospital staff monitor resources for COVID-19-related care. Swedish, the largest nonprofit health… Read More

Video

Coronavirus sleuths kick off campaign for digital tracing of COVID-19 contacts

by Alan Boyle on April 1, 2020April 3, 2020 at 1:56 am

The researchers who helped track down the origins of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. are now launching an effort to help contain it, using location data from patients’ mobile… Read More

With high school’s 3D printers in his house, student runs mask production line for Seattle-area hospitals

by Kurt Schlosser on April 1, 2020April 1, 2020 at 8:18 am

When Ayan Gupta and his classmates at Tesla STEM High School in Redmond, Wash., started throwing around ideas for lending a hand during the coronavirus crisis, someone suggested they make… Read More

How Microsoft is fighting the coronavirus outbreak with chatbots and virus trackers

by Alan Boyle on March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 at 9:03 pm

To cope with the global coronavirus outbreak, Microsoft is bringing out the bots — and that’s just the beginning. Software developers are also working on software tools to trace the… Read More

Bill Gates outlines 3 steps US government needs to take ‘to save lives and get the country back to work’

by Taylor Soper on March 31, 2020April 2, 2020 at 9:02 am

Shut down the country. Step up testing. Develop treatments and a vaccine using data. Bill Gates laid out a 3-step process the U.S. government must take to help curb the… Read More

Analyst lowers Expedia profitability estimates again as questions swirl about future of travel

by Taylor Soper on March 31, 2020April 1, 2020 at 9:59 am

It’s unclear how the COVID-19 outbreak will change the way we travel. Will consumers be more wary of getting on a plane or staying in a hotel? Will remote work… Read More

Two small businesses rally to support others with online gift card sales that act as ‘microloans’

by Lisa Stiffler on March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 at 5:02 pm

While efforts to limit movement and interaction in Washington state appear to be slowing the novel coronavirus outbreak in the region, the mandate is hammering local businesses whose sales have… Read More

Video

D-Wave Systems opens free access to hybrid quantum computing for coronavirus researchers

by Alan Boyle on March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 at 1:34 pm

Burnaby, B.C.-based D-Wave Systems says it’s providing free access to its Leap hybrid quantum cloud service to anyone who’s working on responses to the coronavirus outbreak. But wait … there’s… Read More

Spa and salon software startup Zenoti makes small layoff as beauty industry faces COVID-19 upheaval

by Kurt Schlosser on March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 at 1:11 pm

Zenoti, a 9-year-old Seattle startup that makes enterprise software for businesses in the beauty and wellness industry, has made a 3.5-percent cut to its worldwide staff of 500. CEO Sudheer… Read More

Pet care startup Rover lays off 41% of workforce due to COVID-19 impact

by Taylor Soper on March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 at 11:18 am

Seattle-based startup Rover laid off 41% of its workforce today due to the economic impact and uncertainty from the COVID-19 outbreak. Rover put an additional 9% of staff on standby.… Read More

Gravity Payments employees volunteer to take pay cut as revenue drops 50% during COVID-19 crisis

by Kurt Schlosser on March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 at 10:54 am

When Dan Price announced his plan five years ago to raise the minimum wage at his company to $70,000, the Gravity Payments CEO made international headlines as he became an… Read More

News Brief

Researcher makes her pitch for new therapies in a coronavirus doubleheader

by Alan Boyle on March 30, 2020March 30, 2020 at 6:00 pm

Businesses in Washington state that don’t comply with ‘stay home’ order could have licenses revoked

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 30, 2020March 30, 2020 at 3:29 pm

Companies in Washington state that fail to comply with Gov. Jay Inslee’s “stay home” order could lose their business licenses. Inslee announced a range of new enforcement measures to compel… Read More

City of Seattle unveils online map to highlight takeout and delivery food options

by Karina Mazhukhina on March 30, 2020March 30, 2020 at 3:23 pm

As residents continue to grapple with the effects of the coronavirus, the City of Seattle is hoping to ease some of that burden by connecting locals with businesses trying to… Read More

Seattle startup Tomorrow sees app usage increase as interest in legal wills surges in COVID-19 crisis

by Karina Mazhukhina on March 30, 2020March 31, 2020 at 10:21 am

Seattle startup Tomorrow is seeing a surge in activity with its legal will-creating app amid the novel coronavirus outbreak that has infected more than 770,000 globally. The company helps make… Read More

Video

Maker Mask launches in Seattle using 3D-printing technology to produce protective gear

by Kurt Schlosser on March 30, 2020April 1, 2020 at 4:12 pm

A technology veteran and a 3D-printing “savant” have teamed with other members of industry, health care and government to launch Maker Mask, a Seattle nonprofit creating medically endorsed, reusable protective… Read More

It’s true! King County says social distancing is slowing down the coronavirus outbreak

by Alan Boyle on March 30, 2020March 31, 2020 at 9:03 am

Citing fresh statistics, public health officials today confirmed that social distancing measures “appear to be making a difference in slowing the spread of COVID-19” in Seattle and King County. But… Read More

Amazon starts temperature screening amid outcry over warehouse worker exposure to COVID-19

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 30, 2020March 30, 2020 at 10:42 am

Amazon will begin screening employee temperatures at warehouses in New York and Seattle this week amid growing unrest about workers’ exposure to COVID-19. Those concerns reached a boiling point Monday… Read More

Univ. of Washington studies antimalarial drug’s use to head off COVID-19, with Gates Foundation’s aid

by Alan Boyle on March 30, 2020March 30, 2020 at 10:49 am

University of Washington researchers are among the leaders of a newly announced clinical trial investigating whether hydroxychloroquine, a drug that’s commonly used to counter malaria and autoimmune disease, can prevent… Read More

Privacy advocates alarmed after Seattle-area police launch online tool to report illegal gatherings

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 30, 2020March 30, 2020 at 10:21 am

Police in Bellevue, Wash., are asking residents to report violations of the state’s “stay home” order online in an effort to clear up 911 lines for emergencies. Suspected violations are… Read More

News Brief

Redfin sells $110M of stock to Durable Capital Partners amid COVID-19 crisis

by Taylor Soper on March 30, 2020March 30, 2020 at 11:19 am

‘Canary in a coal mine’: Seattle marketing tech startup Amplero shuts down, lays off 17 employees

by Taylor Soper on March 29, 2020March 29, 2020 at 9:48 pm

The future was bright for Amplero. The Seattle marketing tech startup entered 2020 with positive momentum and plans to nearly triple its revenue. But then the COVID-19 outbreak brought the… Read More

Gov. Inslee on President Trump and COVID-19: ‘We need to make decisions based on science, reality’

by Todd Bishop on March 29, 2020March 29, 2020 at 1:12 pm

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday morning, called for better federal coordination to stem the COVID-19 pandemic, and said he doesn’t believe President… Read More

Update: Microsoft Teams sees 775% spike in Teams usage in Italy due to COVID-19

by Taylor Soper on March 29, 2020April 9, 2020 at 6:38 am

Update, March 31: Microsoft clarified this statistic, noting that the 775% increase was specifically an increase in Teams calling and meeting monthly users in a one month period in Italy. … Read More

Amazon employee at Seattle-area warehouse tests positive for COVID-19

by Taylor Soper on March 28, 2020March 28, 2020 at 1:15 pm

A worker at Amazon’s Seattle-area warehouse in Kent, Wash. tested positive for COVID-19. This is the first known COVID-19 case at an Amazon warehouse in Washington state. The news was first… Read More

Seattle teenagers debut SMS text alert service for COVID-19 stats, set sights on screening tool

by Karina Mazhukhina on March 27, 2020March 30, 2020 at 8:37 am

Two University of Washington students just released a SMS COVID-19 tracker and have plans for a coronavirus screening tool. Nikolas Ioannou and Sage Khanuja are the teenagers behind Spira, which… Read More

Textio lays off 30 amid COVID-19; Seattle startup hopes its AI writing tech will aid all job seekers

by Kurt Schlosser on March 27, 2020March 27, 2020 at 3:02 pm

Textio, the Seattle startup whose augmented writing platform helps companies use language that attracts the right job candidates, laid off 30 employees on Friday, or 20 percent of its team.… Read More

Bright.md raises $8M for virtual healthcare service that can help with COVID-19 related care

by Karina Mazhukhina on March 27, 2020March 11, 2021 at 11:48 am

Bright.md raised more money for its AI-powered virtual healthcare service as the Portland, Ore.-based startup helps screen patients with COVID-19-like symptoms. B Capital and Seven Peaks Ventures led an $8… Read More

‘Joyful noise’ rings out in Seattle as people show support for workers on front lines of crisis

by Kurt Schlosser on March 27, 2020March 28, 2020 at 9:55 am

We heard you, Seattle. From balconies and windows and front porches across the city on Thursday night, people cheered, hollered, whistled, banged pots and pans together, played an instrument and… Read More

GeekWire 200 startup leaders share leadership advice on navigating the COVID-19 crisis

by Taylor Soper on March 27, 2020March 31, 2020 at 4:18 pm

There is no coronavirus playbook. Company leaders are facing an unprecedented crisis as the COVID-19 outbreak spreads worldwide and impacts businesses across multiple industries. Seattle was the initial epicenter of… Read More

Northshore School District relaunches online learning program after pausing due to equity issues

by Nicole Tanner on March 26, 2020March 26, 2020 at 9:24 pm

The Northshore School District, located north of Seattle, plans to relaunch its online learning platform after pausing the initial program earlier this month due to equity issues. According to an email to… Read More

Bill Gates: Entire country needs to shut down for 6-10 weeks to effectively fight coronavirus

by Todd Bishop on March 26, 2020March 26, 2020 at 9:18 pm

Bill Gates cautioned Thursday night that “there is no middle ground” in the fight against the novel coronavirus, calling for a coordinated effort to effectively shut down normal life across… Read More

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos pledges to help WHO flood the world with coronavirus test kits

by Alan Boyle on March 26, 2020March 26, 2020 at 5:48 pm

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and the World Health Organization’s director-general are trading ideas on how to get the COVID-19 pandemic under control, using tools ranging from Amazon Web Services’ firepower… Read More

Music lessons startup Play at Work becomes ‘play at home’ as tech workers get instruction via video

by Kurt Schlosser on March 26, 2020March 26, 2020 at 5:36 pm

Plenty of work experiences have moved from in-office settings to virtual connections in the weeks since many of us were told to do our jobs remotely because of the coronavirus… Read More

How the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package impacts startups

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 26, 2020March 26, 2020 at 4:39 pm

The U.S. Senate passed the largest stimulus package in American history on Wednesday to cushion the economy from impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation carves out special relief programs… Read More

Video

Fitness studio backed by Russell Wilson responds to health crisis with access to free virtual workouts

by Kurt Schlosser on March 26, 2020March 26, 2020 at 4:15 pm

If you’ve retreated to your basement gym or the floor in front of your television to get some exercise while sheltering in place, Russell Wilson and his friends at TruFusion… Read More

Univ. of Washington researchers predict 80,000 COVID-19 deaths in U.S. by July

by Alan Boyle on March 26, 2020March 27, 2020 at 11:06 am

If gaps in health care resources aren’t filled, more than 80,000 Americans will die over the next four months due to the coronavirus pandemic, epidemiologists at the University of Washington… Read More

Impact of COVID-19 on consumer spending: Booze buying and video games are up; travel, lodging sink

by Kate Kaye on March 26, 2020March 26, 2020 at 1:22 pm

A Portland, Ore.-area firm with data on tens of millions of credit and debit card transactions flowing into its system each day published a new report this week that reveals… Read More

Redfin’s coronavirus response: CEO forgoes salary for 2020; agent base pay increases; and more

by Taylor Soper on March 26, 2020March 26, 2020 at 2:25 pm

Redfin is making adjustments amid the COVID-19 crisis and uncertainty surrounding the real estate market. The Seattle real estate company wrote a letter to shareholders Thursday outlining cost-cutting moves and… Read More

Unemployment applications surge 843% in Washington state amid coronavirus isolation order

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 26, 2020March 27, 2020 at 7:59 am

Washington state has seen an unprecedented spike in unemployment applications amid an order for all non-essential workers to remain in their homes to slow the COVID-19 outbreak. Applications for unemployment… Read More

During run on toilet paper, Cloud Paper is on a roll with its tree-free product and a worthy donation

by Kurt Schlosser on March 26, 2020July 10, 2020 at 11:47 am

Toilet paper is a popular item these days, as the coronavirus outbreak has created a run on the household staple and led to empty store shelves across the country. Cloud… Read More

Video

How two Seattle startups are helping doctors uncover hidden trends in COVID-19 cases

by Karina Mazhukhina on March 26, 2020March 26, 2020 at 9:28 am

It’s critical for doctors and other health care providers to see the underlying trends in COVID-19 cases, to understand what’s working and what isn’t in the fight against the pandemic. Two… Read More

Pandemic data mining underscores the importance of social distancing in China — and in Seattle

by Alan Boyle & Lisa Stiffler on March 25, 2020March 26, 2020 at 7:23 am

Masses of location data gathered in China show that intensive testing, tracking and restrictions on mobility are effective strategies for fighting a coronavirus outbreak. They also show that the strategies… Read More

Video

UW Medicine sets up tents to prepare for surge of patients in COVID-19 outbreak

by Alan Boyle on March 25, 2020March 25, 2020 at 6:21 pm

UW Medicine is implementing its plan to deal with a surge of patients with COVID-19 respiratory symptoms, including the erection of tents outside hospital emergency departments for initial screening. The… Read More

Video

Calling all kids: Send Blue Origin a space postcard while you’re stuck at home

by Alan Boyle on March 25, 2020March 25, 2020 at 4:31 pm

Are you looking for educational activities to occupy the kids while you’re cooped up due to the coronavirus outbreak? One option is to make space postcards for the Club for… Read More

King County unveils new dashboard to track confirmed COVID-19 cases, deaths and trends

by Karina Mazhukhina on March 25, 2020March 25, 2020 at 6:07 pm

King County has unveiled a new dashboard for tracking coronavirus stats, including a chart for cases and deaths as well as trends by zip code, including individual communities in Seattle… Read More

Gates Foundation will provide $3.7M in grants for Seattle-area COVID-19 response

by Taylor Soper on March 25, 2020March 25, 2020 at 12:00 am

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will give $3.7 million to a Seattle-area public health agency; several local foundations; homeless service providers; and more in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.… Read More

Rich Barton lays out Zillow’s coronavirus playbook: Freeze hiring; cut expenses; pause home-buying

by Taylor Soper on March 24, 2020March 25, 2020 at 12:41 pm

“You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.” Warren Buffett uses this phrase in shareholder letters to describe how companies get exposed during less-than-ideal circumstances.… Read More

Package safety: COVID-19 is ‘stable’ on cardboard for 24 hours, but risk of transmission is low

by Taylor Soper on March 24, 2020March 24, 2020 at 4:14 pm

Should you be worried about transmitting COVID-19 from packages that arrive at your doorstep? As people rely more heavily on e-commerce companies such as Amazon amid the novel coronavirus outbreak,… Read More

Seattle bakery owner launches restaurant delivery platform as other services pivot during crisis

by Kurt Schlosser on March 24, 2020March 25, 2020 at 10:11 am

Putting food on the table and supporting hard-hit restaurants and small businesses at the same time may be one of the bigger concerns of the coronavirus outbreak. As restaurants have… Read More

Video

How are you doing during the COVID-19 crisis? Scientists want to hear your story

by Alan Boyle on March 24, 2020March 24, 2020 at 12:31 pm

Researchers at the University of Washington are launching a study aimed at answering the question that’s on a lot of people’s minds as the coronavirus epidemic spreads through the Seattle… Read More

‘We should’ve done more’: Bill Gates says US was too slow on COVID-19, shutdown now unavoidable

by Karina Mazhukhina on March 24, 2020March 25, 2020 at 10:01 am

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said Tuesday morning that the U.S. acted too slowly and missed its chance to avoid mandatory stay-at-home orders to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, saying that… Read More

Video

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says tech giant ‘will weather the storm’ amid COVID-19 outbreak

by Taylor Soper on March 24, 2020March 26, 2020 at 3:10 pm

One impact from the sudden change to remote work amid the COVID-19 crisis: Satya Nadella is no longer working from his bed at home. “Sharing the office with my daughters… Read More

Video

Washington governor issues ‘stay home, stay healthy’ order to slow spread of COVID-19

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 23, 2020March 23, 2020 at 8:53 pm

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday ordered all residents except essential workers to stay at home for at least two weeks, the strictest measure to combat the COVID-19 outbreak in… Read More

Recycling startup Ridwell collecting hygiene supplies and more to help groups during COVID-19

by Kurt Schlosser on March 23, 2020March 23, 2020 at 11:29 am

Ridwell, the Seattle startup that picks up hard-to-dispose-of household items for reuse or responsible recycling, has turned its attention to collecting supplies that are needed by those who are especially… Read More

Video

Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network launches with boost from Bill Gates, Amazon and volunteers

by Alan Boyle on March 23, 2020March 23, 2020 at 12:50 pm

The scientific sleuths who tracked down the origins of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak in the Seattle area have announced a new initiative to crack the case wide-open — and they’re… Read More

With COVID-19 cases growing, Boeing plans 14-day shutdown of airplane production in Puget Sound

by Alan Boyle on March 23, 2020April 5, 2020 at 7:10 pm

In the wake of the first reported death of an employee in Puget Sound due to COVID-19, Boeing announced today that it’s begun the process of shutting down production operations… Read More

Zillow suspends home buying efforts through Zillow Offers amid real estate uncertainty

by Kurt Schlosser on March 23, 2020March 23, 2020 at 1:43 pm

Zillow Group announced Monday that it will temporarily pause home buying through its Zillow Offers business in response to stay-at-home directives from various locales related to the coronavirus crisis and… Read More

Seattle tech, business, sports heavyweights raise $27M for COVID-19 community support fund, call on others to join

by Taylor Soper on March 23, 2020March 23, 2020 at 9:19 pm

A coalition of tech, business, and sports leaders from across the Puget Sound region has raised $27 million to help people affected by the COVID-19 outbreak — and it is… Read More

Video

Mobility stats: Seattle lags SF and NYC in getting people to stay home in COVID-19 response

by Todd Bishop on March 22, 2020March 23, 2020 at 10:15 am

Seattle-area residents have significantly reduced their movement around the city as state and local officials have urged citizens to stay home to limit the spread of COVID-19. However, the decrease… Read More

Video

Amazon and Microsoft join White House team to unleash high-performance computing on COVID-19

by Alan Boyle on March 22, 2020March 26, 2020 at 5:33 pm

Less than a week after the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy organized a consortium to focus the power of artificial intelligence on addressing the coronavirus outbreak, another… Read More

Live Blog

Coronavirus Live Updates: The latest COVID-19 developments in Seattle and the world of tech

by GeekWire Staff on March 22, 2020June 3, 2020 at 8:12 am

Update, June 3, 2020: Follow ongoing coverage via our Coronavirus Outbreak special coverage section. Follow @geekwire for updates. Send us a news tip. Subscribe to our newsletter.

Photo booth startup hit hard by loss of live events pivots to gift boxes to try to ‘Keep Your City Smiling’

by Kurt Schlosser on March 22, 2020March 21, 2020 at 10:49 am

Sam Eitzen’s Seattle-based photo and video booth startup The SnapBar is in the business of making people smile for the camera at hundreds of events and parties. As that industry… Read More

‘Uncharted territory’: What Satya Nadella is telling Microsoft employees about the COVID-19 outbreak

by Taylor Soper on March 21, 2020March 22, 2020 at 9:55 pm

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella thanked employees for their hard work and said the company has a key role to play amid the COVID-19 pandemic in a company-wide email sent Saturday.… Read More

Internal memo: Jeff Bezos tells Amazon employees he’s ‘wholly focused’ on the COVID-19 crisis

by Monica Nickelsburg & Todd Bishop on March 21, 2020March 21, 2020 at 8:39 pm

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos says he has turned all of his attention to the impact of COVID-19, the tech giant’s response to the spread of the disease, and its role… Read More

Video

GM collaborates with Ventec on ventilator production for coronavirus patients

by Alan Boyle on March 21, 2020March 21, 2020 at 9:48 am

GM and Bothell, Wash.-based Ventec Life Systems say they’re collaborating to increase production of Ventec’s next-generation ventilators, which will be sorely needed to serve waves of patients during the coronavirus… Read More

Seattle’s coffee tech startups try to keep cup half full as they help partners weather coronavirus

by Kurt Schlosser on March 21, 2020March 21, 2020 at 9:43 am

For a lot of workers of varying stripes, coffee is an essential part of what it means to go to work, especially in Seattle. Whether it’s the morning cup for… Read More

Seattle’s Pacific Science Center lays off more than 300 people due to COVID-19 outbreak

by Taylor Soper on March 20, 2020March 21, 2020 at 8:42 am

The Pacific Science Center, a storied Seattle institution that hosts educational events and operates two IMAX theaters, laid off more than 300 people as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.… Read More

Video

FDA issues alert about fraudulent at-home coronavirus tests — without naming names

by Alan Boyle on March 20, 2020March 21, 2020 at 12:50 pm

The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about unauthorized kits that are being marketed to test for coronavirus in the home. “At this time, the FDA has not authorized… Read More

Amazon calls accusations ‘simply unfounded’ after senators question warehouse worker protection

by Taylor Soper on March 20, 2020March 21, 2020 at 10:03 am

U.S. senators are scrutinizing Amazon’s handling of its warehouse workers amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Four legislators sent a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Friday outlining their concern for the… Read More

Washington governor avoids ‘shelter in place’ rule, but warns citizens they’re not doing enough

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 20, 2020March 25, 2020 at 12:47 pm

Editor’s note: On Monday, March 23, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee ordered all residents except essential workers to stay at home for at least two weeks. Read the story. Washington Gov.… Read More

News Brief

Boeing suspends its dividend, holds up buybacks and stops paying CEO and chairman amid pandemic

by Alan Boyle on March 20, 2020March 20, 2020 at 4:57 pm

Seattle startups forced to temporarily lay off workers due to impact from COVID-19 outbreak

by Taylor Soper on March 20, 2020March 20, 2020 at 3:44 pm

With reduced revenue and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, Seattle tech startups are temporarily letting go of workers to help keep their businesses afloat during an unprecedented economic period.… Read More

DIY homeschool: One mom’s efforts to keep her kid’s brain from going mushy — plus experts’ tips

by Lisa Stiffler on March 20, 2020March 20, 2020 at 11:24 am

The Khan Academy math instructor has a soothing deep voice. It comes to you disembodied, a Wizard-of-Oz-like presence behind the cursor. He tees up fractions, changing colors as he switches… Read More

Amazon pledges $20 million to accelerate COVID-19 diagnostic testing

by Karina Mazhukhina on March 20, 2020March 20, 2020 at 10:37 am

Amazon is pledging $20 million to accelerate diagnostics, research and testing in the fight against COVID-19. The company announced the new Amazon Web Services (AWS) Diagnostic Development Initiative on Friday… Read More

Rep. DelBene and other lawmakers voice privacy concerns over virus-tracking plans

by Alan Boyle on March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 at 7:19 pm

Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., and two other members of Congress are sounding an alarm over the prospect of using location data to track the coronavirus outbreak. In a letter to… Read More

Pandemic exposes cracks in US labor market, leaving gig workers feeling desperate and exposed

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 19, 2020March 20, 2020 at 9:05 am

When Uber announced this week it will provide cash assistance to drivers diagnosed with COVID-19, Vasil Denev considered whether getting sick was his best option. “Uber offered to pay me… Read More

Video

Redfin shares tips for ‘Selling Homes in a Virtual World’ to address COVID-19 real estate concerns

by Kurt Schlosser on March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 at 2:48 pm

More people may be turning to virtual experiences when it comes to buying and selling homes during the coronavirus outbreak, and on Thursday, Seattle-based real estate company Redfin hosted a… Read More

Live-streaming traffic spikes amid social distancing as streamers offer community and conversation

by Thomas Wilde on March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 at 2:31 pm

With more people staying indoors due to quarantines, lockdowns, and voluntary isolation, livestreamed programming has grown in popularity. Globally, the weekend of March 14 saw a big increase in streaming… Read More

From airports to movie theaters to grocery stores, measuring COVID-19 impact via foot traffic data

by Kurt Schlosser on March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 at 1:00 pm

Social distancing and self-quarantine measures have impacted foot traffic at movie theaters, airports, restaurants, bars, grocery stores, warehouse stores and just about everywhere else during the coronavirus outbreak according to… Read More

Uber sees 60-70% decline in Seattle rides, prepares for at least two months of ‘absolute lockdown’

by Todd Bishop on March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 at 12:52 pm

Uber has seen a 60% to 70% decline in bookings in Seattle in the past few days and is preparing for an “absolute lockdown/shutdown” of the city lasting at least… Read More

Whale experts launch free, virtual marine biology camp to entertain and inform kids

by Lisa Stiffler on March 19, 2020March 25, 2020 at 9:08 pm

The scientists running Seattle-based Oceans Initiative more typically apply their marine mammal expertise to research on endangered orcas or conservation of white-sided dolphins in Washington’s Puget Sound. But the upside-down… Read More

How Amazon is handling first COVID-19 case in its fulfillment system, after N.Y. worker tests positive

by Kurt Schlosser on March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 at 9:44 am

Amazon said it is taking proactive measures to protect employees at its fulfillment centers after a worker at a facility in Queens, N.Y., tested positive for COVID-19. The first known… Read More

Seattle startup Mystery creates ‘Night In’ boxes for those who still want to date and support businesses

by Kurt Schlosser on March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 at 10:37 am

Mystery has built a business around getting people out. The coronavirus is doing its best to keep us all in. Now the Seattle startup, which normally helps facilitate a surprise… Read More

Video

Coronavirus sleuth outlines his ‘Apollo program’ for bringing down the pandemic

by Alan Boyle on March 18, 2020March 18, 2020 at 9:23 pm

A Seattle epidemiologist who warned about the threat posed by novel coronavirus when it was a novelty now says he sees a path to stopping the pandemic. But it’ll take… Read More

Smartsheet Q4 revenue up 51% to $78.5M — here’s how the company is responding to COVID-19

by Taylor Soper on March 18, 2020March 19, 2020 at 6:12 pm

Smartsheet is responding to requests from global healthcare customers and rolling out free templates as it adjusts to demand caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. The Bellevue, Wash.-based collaboration work management… Read More

5 moves that Big Tech platforms like Google and Instagram should make amid the COVID-19 crisis

by Rand Fishkin on March 18, 2020March 19, 2020 at 10:40 am

There can no longer be doubt: the majority of people in advanced economies are living through the most life-altering event of the last 40 years. Natural disasters, wars, economic turmoil,… Read More

RedfinNow pauses making offers on homes as CEO says housing market has taken ‘turn for the worse’

by Kurt Schlosser on March 18, 2020March 18, 2020 at 4:00 pm

Seattle-based real estate company Redfin announced Wednesday that RedfinNow, an arm of its business that buys homes directly from homeowners and resells them to homebuyers, will temporarily pause making offers on… Read More

A virtual new world: Seattle startups on what works and what they miss while working from home

by Kurt Schlosser on March 18, 2020March 18, 2020 at 1:14 pm

How’s everybody doing? That seems to be the question of the moment as we check in with one another via Slack, Zoom, Teams, Google Hangouts and more from the kitchen… Read More

Bill Gates calls out federal government for disorganized COVID-19 testing in Reddit AMA

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 18, 2020March 19, 2020 at 4:02 pm

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, a leading philanthropist on global public health, offered predictions and advice for coping with the COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday during a Reddit AMA. He urged everyone who… Read More

Video

Washington state works with the Pentagon to prepare for a wave of coronavirus cases

by Alan Boyle on March 17, 2020March 17, 2020 at 5:00 pm

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says state officials are making joint preparations with the Defense Department to get more hospital beds and medical supplies ready for an expected rise in coronavirus… Read More

Video

Bill Gates warned us of a COVID-19-like pandemic — watch his TED Talk from 2015

by Taylor Soper on March 17, 2020March 19, 2020 at 4:00 pm

Bill Gates saw the COVID-19 outbreak coming — and he knew we weren’t prepared for it. The Microsoft co-founder on multiple occasions over the past decade talked about the potential… Read More

Passenger traffic drops by two-thirds at Sea-Tac due to coronavirus; aid sought

by Alan Boyle on March 17, 2020March 17, 2020 at 12:07 pm

The number of airline passengers taking off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has fallen by two-thirds, due to the coronavirus outbreak and its effect on air travel, officials at the Port… Read More

Lime temporarily shuts down in CA, WA and some European countries to slow coronavirus

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 17, 2020March 17, 2020 at 12:25 pm

Lime is pausing its e-scooter and e-bike services in California, Washington, Italy, France, and Spain, starting Tuesday. The company said the closures are intended to slow the spread of COVID-19.… Read More

Amazon warehouses will stop accepting non-essential items amid COVID-19 outbreak

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 17, 2020March 17, 2020 at 9:50 am

Amazon told third-party sellers Tuesday that it will temporarily bar shipments of non-essential items to warehouses so that the company can prioritize medical supplies and household goods. The moratorium will… Read More

T-Mobile closes 80% of retail stores amid COVID-19 outbreak

by Taylor Soper on March 17, 2020March 17, 2020 at 9:30 am

T-Mobile is the latest retailer to close physical stores amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The Bellevue, Wash.-based wireless carrier will close about 80% of its company-owned retail stores starting March 17… Read More

Microsoft closes all retail stores worldwide due to COVID-19 outbreak

by Taylor Soper on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 at 9:23 pm

Microsoft announced late Monday that it will close all Microsoft Store retail locations due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The decision follows other companies including Apple and Nike that have closed… Read More

Empty roads cause travel speeds to increase by 20% in LA, NYC, Chicago, Seattle, SF, Rome

by Taylor Soper on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 at 5:50 pm

Social distancing mandates across the world due to the COVID-19 outbreak are leaving big city roadways eerily bare during normally-treacherous morning and evening commutes. New data from INRIX, the Kirkland,… Read More

Video

Seattle techies get the first shots in Kaiser Permanente’s coronavirus vaccine trial

by Alan Boyle on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 at 5:56 pm

Seattle’s tech community is well-represented in the first group of participants to get their shots in the first U.S. clinical trial of a vaccine for coronavirus. The first volunteer in… Read More

GeekWire and COVID-19: A message to readers from co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop

by Todd Bishop & John Cook on March 16, 2020March 17, 2020 at 5:31 am

GeekWire is fortunate to report from one of the most dynamic and innovative places in the world: Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. What happens here matters everywhere, as we like… Read More

U.S. stock market plunges again as shares of Seattle tech companies take a big hit

by Taylor Soper on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 at 2:58 pm

The U.S. stock market continued its plunge Monday amid fears of a global recession due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Dow Jones closed down nearly 3,000 points, or 12.9%,… Read More

Amazon will hire 100k warehouse workers amid pandemic-driven surge in online shopping

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 at 1:28 pm

Amazon is planning to hire an additional 100,000 warehouse workers to keep up with the volume of orders placed by customers amid a global COVID-19 outbreak. Amazon said Monday it… Read More

AI2 and Microsoft join the White House’s push to enlist AI for the war on coronavirus

by Alan Boyle on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 at 8:31 pm

A consortium of tech leaders — including Seattle’s Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s charity — today unveiled an AI-enabled database that’s meant to give… Read More

Scientists find that up to 86 percent of coronavirus infections go undetected

by Alan Boyle on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 at 8:06 pm

Computer modeling of the coronavirus outbreak’s course in China, in the weeks before a travel shutdown was imposed on Jan. 23, suggest that 86% of the infections went undocumented. Those… Read More

Amazon delivery infrastructure strained as COVID-19 outbreak sparks surge in online shopping

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 at 12:33 pm

With thousands of Americans telecommuting and self-isolating to slow the spread of COVID-19, Amazon’s Prime and Fresh delivery services are grappling with high demand and inventory issues, as warehouse workers… Read More

Gravity Payments tracks major decline in sales across numerous businesses amid coronavirus

by Kurt Schlosser on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 at 7:46 am

The coronavirus outbreak is already taking a huge economic toll on businesses across the Seattle region according to data from Gravity Payments, the credit card processing and financial services company.… Read More

Washington state will temporarily close restaurants, bars, and entertainment/recreational facilities

by Taylor Soper on March 15, 2020March 15, 2020 at 10:02 pm

Washington state will temporarily close restaurants, bars, and entertainment/recreational facilities statewide starting Monday, March 16 in the latest move to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Gov. Jay Inslee made… Read More

Video

Officials promise rollout of coronavirus test sites – but warn that there’ll be bottlenecks

by Alan Boyle on March 15, 2020March 15, 2020 at 5:42 pm

Federal public health officials say they’ll start setting up an expanded system of coronavirus test centers this week, but acknowledge that pent-up demand could overwhelm them. “We will have a… Read More

Starbucks will go entirely ‘to go’ — no sitting for at least two weeks in its U.S. and Canada stores

by Todd Bishop on March 15, 2020March 18, 2020 at 9:31 am

Starbucks will shift entirely to a “to-go” model at its company-owned stores in the U.S. and Canada for at least two weeks, asking its customers to refrain from using seats… Read More

President Donald Trump tests negative for coronavirus after a week of controversy

by Alan Boyle on March 14, 2020March 14, 2020 at 4:57 pm

President Donald Trump famously downplayed the seriousness of the coronavirus outbreak at first, but now he’s been tested to see if he’s carrying the virus – and the results show… Read More

Video

Trump says he’s considering restrictions on domestic travel from coronavirus hotspots

by Alan Boyle on March 14, 2020March 14, 2020 at 1:21 pm

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, restrictions on European travel will be extended to Britain and Ireland on Monday – and President Donald Trump said today that limits on travel… Read More

Video

Coronavirus test system will rely on online screening and parking-lot sampling sites

by Alan Boyle on March 13, 2020March 13, 2020 at 5:21 pm

The Trump administration says it will set up a nationwide screening and testing system for coronavirus that relies upon online self-screening and drive-through sampling stations in store parking lots. Lots… Read More

Real-time fever tracking: How a Seattle startup quickly altered its roadmap to help with COVID-19

by Todd Bishop on March 13, 2020August 31, 2020 at 5:33 pm

Sentinel Healthcare, a Seattle health tech startup founded by a doctor seeking a better way to monitor his patients’ condition remotely, has quickly switched up its product roadmap in the… Read More

News Brief

A dozen national science advisers ask publishers to make all coronavirus research available for AI

by Alan Boyle on March 13, 2020March 13, 2020 at 9:53 am

Microsoft Build developer event in Seattle moved online amid coronavirus outbreak

by Taylor Soper on March 12, 2020March 12, 2020 at 11:30 pm

Microsoft Build will be an online-only event this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The annual developer event draws about 5,000 people and was scheduled for May 19-21 in Seattle.… Read More

Photos: Seattle’s tech hub goes quiet as businesses struggle to cope with effects of COVID-19

by Kurt Schlosser on March 12, 2020March 12, 2020 at 8:42 pm

On a normal weekday in the South Lake Union neighborhood, Seattle’s busiest tech hub is bustling with foot, bike and car traffic as workers shuffle between buildings at Amazon, Facebook,… Read More

Video

Researcher says more coronavirus testing will help manage outbreak, but travel bans? Not so much

by Alan Boyle on March 12, 2020March 13, 2020 at 7:21 pm

A fresh analysis of the numbers behind the coronavirus outbreak suggests that it’s reached the point where more intensive testing and social distancing will help far more than bans on… Read More

Amazon moves shareholder meeting online, cancels in-person event where investors and protestors gather in Seattle annually

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 12, 2020March 12, 2020 at 10:18 am

Amazon’s annual shareholder meeting will be held exclusively online this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak that is rocking the world and financial markets. The Seattle event has become a… Read More

How will all the chaos in the world impact the price of bitcoin?

by Jesse Proudman on March 12, 2020March 12, 2020 at 8:51 am

Strix Leviathan operates a quantitative digital asset fund taking systematic long and short positions in large-cap digital currencies including bitcoin and ethereum, so our perspective on the global economy doesn’t… Read More

The show goes on(line): As events cancel due to COVID-19, Seattle startup builds a virtual platform

by Kurt Schlosser on March 12, 2020March 12, 2020 at 8:04 am

On a typical day, Pathable, the Seattle-based company that normally produces mobile apps for conferences and events, might get three to five inquiries on its website from people interested in… Read More

‘Classroom to Cloud’: What happened when coronavirus forced my kid’s school to go online

by Nicole Tanner on March 11, 2020March 12, 2020 at 9:48 am

Packing the backpack is a thing of the past — at least for the next few weeks. My daughter is a second-grade student in the Northshore School District, which closed… Read More

Report: Amazon and Gates Foundation aim to team up with scientists on home test kits for coronavirus

by Alan Boyle on March 11, 2020March 13, 2020 at 7:24 pm

Amazon Care is offering assistance to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a plan to deliver coronavirus test kits to Seattle homes, CNBC reports. The plan as described hints… Read More

Amazon launches $25M relief fund to help delivery drivers, seasonal workers cope with COVID-19

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 at 1:43 pm

Amazon on Wednesday announced it will donate $25 million to help its network of independent delivery drivers, Amazon Flex workers, and seasonal employees deal with disruptions caused by the COVID-19… Read More

Video

Seattle Public Schools closing for at least two weeks; district has said it won’t offer online learning

by Todd Bishop on March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 at 3:37 pm

Seattle Public Schools will close for at least two weeks starting Thursday, the latest in a series of dramatic measures intended to help stem the tide of the novel coronavirus… Read More

News Brief

White House seeks the aid of tech titans to combat coronavirus and misinformation

by Alan Boyle on March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 at 11:23 am

Washington state bans large events in three counties to slow spread of COVID-19, governor calls pandemic ‘extremely dangerous’

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 at 1:46 pm

Washington state is canceling events with more than 250 attendees in three counties through the end of March, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Wednesday at a press conference. The moratorium is… Read More

After being cash-only for 62 years, Seattle burger chain Dick’s prefers only cards during coronavirus

by Kurt Schlosser on March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 at 10:03 am

In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, Seattle burger institution Dick’s Drive-In is asking customers to avoid handing over cash and to pay for food instead with credit or debit… Read More

Video

Coronavirus sleuths say they still see a ‘path forward’ after regulatory snag

by Alan Boyle on March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 at 11:20 am

Regulators have blocked the Seattle Flu Study’s guerrilla effort to trace the spread of novel coronavirus, citing ethical concerns, but leaders of the effort say they’re working out an alternate… Read More

How universities and schools are going online amid the COVID-19 outbreak — and the hurdles they face

by Lisa Stiffler on March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 at 1:20 pm

K-12 schools and universities are moving to online instruction to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Seattle Public Schools announced today that it would close schools starting tomorrow for two… Read More

Washington state reportedly set to ban events larger than 250 people to slow COVID-19 spread

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 10, 2020March 11, 2020 at 8:15 am

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee plans to announce new restrictions on large events in the state to curb the spread of novel coronavirus, banning gatherings of more than 250 people, according… Read More

Analyst: Expedia Group revenue could drop by $470M (18%) in Q1 amid coronavirus outbreak

by Todd Bishop on March 10, 2020March 10, 2020 at 6:08 pm

Citing the uncertainty in global travel amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, a veteran Wall Street analyst issued lower estimates for Expedia Group’s key financial results, predicting a decline of 18… Read More

Video

How to cope with Seattle’s coronavirus outbreak? Pretend that you’re snowed in

by Alan Boyle on March 10, 2020March 10, 2020 at 5:13 pm

Fresh projections suggest that 1,100 people in Washington state have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, and that the outbreak could be due for a rapid rise. What to do… Read More

Startup advice for coronavirus turmoil: curb expenses; assess hiring; don’t panic; be human

by Taylor Soper on March 10, 2020March 11, 2020 at 8:27 am

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, investors are telling startup founders to look closely at sales forecasts, hiring plans, expenses and every other assumption about their business. Turmoil can also present opportunity,… Read More

Amazon will donate $5M to help small businesses near its headquarters mitigate coronavirus losses

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 10, 2020March 12, 2020 at 12:59 pm

Amazon pledged Tuesday to donate $5 million to small businesses around its Seattle headquarters that will be impacted by thousands of tech workers telecommuting in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.… Read More

Video

Coronavirus crackdown? Public officials consider mandatory cancellation of major Seattle events

by Todd Bishop on March 9, 2020March 11, 2020 at 1:24 pm

Update, March 11: Washington state bans large events in three counties to slow spread of COVID-19, governor calls pandemic ‘extremely dangerous’ Public officials are weighing the mandatory cancellation of large… Read More

Gates Foundation, Wellcome, Mastercard launch $125M COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator

by Taylor Soper on March 9, 2020March 10, 2020 at 12:20 am

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is teaming up with Wellcome and Mastercard to form the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, a $125 million effort to help find potential treatments for the… Read More

Video

Hospital’s drive-through coronavirus tests could be a model for Seattle and the world

by Alan Boyle on March 9, 2020March 9, 2020 at 7:04 pm

A drive-through coronavirus testing site set up at a University of Washington hospital could serve as the model for more such facilities around the Seattle area — and perhaps around… Read More

Video

Shares of Seattle tech companies sink as stock market sees worst drop since 2008

by Taylor Soper on March 9, 2020March 9, 2020 at 2:05 pm

Fears over the novel coronavirus outbreak and an oil price war led to the worst day for U.S. stocks since 2008 and a 15-minute halt in trading Monday. The Dow… Read More

In response to coronavirus, Seattle team creates smartband that vibrates if you touch your face

by Kurt Schlosser on March 9, 2020March 9, 2020 at 11:36 am

A team of Seattle entrepreneurs looking for some kind of answer to slow the spread of novel coronavirus has developed a smart wristband that vibrates if the person wearing it… Read More

Microsoft, Amazon and others form $2.5M coronavirus response fund

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 9, 2020March 10, 2020 at 8:26 am

Microsoft, Amazon, and other Seattle-area companies are partnering with nonprofits and governments to launch a relief fund in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The COVID-19 Response Fund will provide grants… Read More

Gates Foundation explores ways to boost COVID-19 detection, reportedly including at-home tests

by Todd Bishop & Alan Boyle on March 8, 2020March 8, 2020 at 4:15 pm

A report says the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is preparing to fund at-home testing kits for the novel coronavirus in Seattle. However, the Gates Foundation cautions that the plans… Read More

Zoom CEO: Coronavirus outbreak will ‘change the landscape’ of work and communication

by Nat Levy on March 7, 2020March 7, 2020 at 7:48 am

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan thinks the response to the coronavirus outbreak could lead to a fundamental, permanent shift in how people work. “Given this coronavirus, I think overnight, almost everybody… Read More

Seattle tech giants attempt to bridge divide by paying hourly workers during coronavirus recess

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 6, 2020March 6, 2020 at 6:17 pm

Seattle’s largest technology companies plan to pay their hourly workers normal wages even as their need for support staff diminishes due to telecommuting policies that employers are pushing to stem… Read More

Video

Study says travel restrictions can delay, but can’t defeat a global coronavirus outbreak

by Alan Boyle on March 6, 2020March 6, 2020 at 3:45 pm

Comparisons of the real-world spread of the COV-19 coronavirus with computer models indicate that the travel restrictions imposed by authorities in China and other nations have delayed the progress of… Read More

Video

UW Medicine says it has extra capacity for coronavirus tests; bottlenecks may lie elsewhere

by Alan Boyle on March 6, 2020March 7, 2020 at 7:43 am

The University of Washington School of Medicine says its virology lab is now capable of performing 1,000 genetic tests for the COVID-19 coronavirus every day — but all that capacity… Read More

Coronavirus could be a tipping point (finally) for telecommuting

by Bob Sullivan on March 6, 2020March 6, 2020 at 12:28 pm

Since the 1973 oil embargo, and the nearly concurrent coining of the term “gridlock,” Americans have mused about telecommuting as the solution to many modern ills. When high-speed Internet began… Read More

Emerald City Comic Con finally postpones event, relenting to backlash amid coronavirus outbreak

by Todd Bishop on March 6, 2020March 6, 2020 at 12:19 pm

Facing an increasingly vocal public backlash, Emerald City Comic Con says it will postpone the giant Seattle fan convention to the summer amid growing public concern about the spread of… Read More

Coronavirus and the commute: Average speeds increase noticeably as many workers stay home

by Kurt Schlosser on March 6, 2020March 6, 2020 at 12:31 pm

Average speeds on major roadways in the Seattle region were more than 10 mph faster than normal on Thursday morning, the first full workday after Microsoft, Amazon and other major… Read More

University of Washington suspends in-person classes and exams amid coronavirus outbreak

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 6, 2020March 6, 2020 at 11:54 am

The University of Washington is suspending in-person classes starting Monday as the Seattle region grapples with an outbreak of COVID-19. It is the first American university to shut down in… Read More

Two Microsoft employees test positive for coronavirus

by Nat Levy on March 6, 2020March 6, 2020 at 7:21 am

Two Microsoft workers based in the Seattle area have contracted the novel coronavirus, the company said. One of the employees works out of Microsoft’s Redmond, Wash. headquarters campus and came… Read More

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Washington Gov. Inslee cuts coronavirus costs — and meets with VP Mike Pence

by Alan Boyle on March 5, 2020March 5, 2020 at 7:55 pm

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and other state officials say they’re acting to reduce medical costs for people who have to be tested or treated for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The state… Read More

Coronavirus: Will it slow Seattle’s housing market or create a ‘sense of urgency’ among buyers?

by Nat Levy on March 5, 2020March 5, 2020 at 8:07 pm

It’s the beginning of prime house-hunting season in Seattle, but a cloud of uncertainty sits over the market due to the spread of coronavirus across the region. On Wednesday, Glenn… Read More

WFH 101: Tips and tricks from the home front as tech workers go remote during coronavirus crisis

by Kurt Schlosser on March 5, 2020March 9, 2020 at 1:26 pm

Tech companies in the Seattle region have gone to great lengths in recent years to build fancy offices full of a variety of perks to entice people to come work… Read More

Seattle traffic disappears as Amazon, Microsoft, others enforce remote work policies

by Taylor Soper on March 5, 2020March 5, 2020 at 12:22 pm

The work-from-home guidance from Seattle’s largest employers in response to the coronavirus outbreak is already affecting the city’s normally treacherous morning traffic. Amazon, Microsoft, and a flurry of other companies… Read More

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How this Seattle startup is using telemedicine to help curb the spread of the coronavirus

by Lisa Stiffler on March 5, 2020March 9, 2020 at 10:53 am

As the U.S. struggles to contain coronavirus infections, one of the lessons from China — where the disease originated and infection rates surged, but are now in decline — is… Read More

Amazon changes coronavirus plan, tells Seattle area employees to work from home until March 31

by Taylor Soper on March 4, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:27 am

Amazon is now asking all of its Seattle-area employees who can do their jobs from home to do so until the end of March amid an ongoing coronavirus outbreak in… Read More

Seattle-area school district closes due to COVID-19, will move 23K students to online learning

by Taylor Soper on March 4, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:37 am

Online learning will be put to the test for a Seattle area school district as it shuts down for two weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak. Northshore School District Superintendent… Read More

Facebook contractor in Seattle tests positive for coronavirus, company closes office

by Taylor Soper on March 4, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:27 am

A Facebook contractor based in Seattle tested positive for coronavirus, the company confirmed Wednesday. The person was last in the Stadium East office on Feb. 21. Facebook closed its Stadium… Read More

Microsoft’s new coronavirus plan: Seattle-area employees to work from home for next 3 weeks

by Todd Bishop on March 4, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:27 am

Microsoft is recommending that all of its Seattle-area employees who can do their jobs from home do so for the next three weeks, through March 25, in the latest effort… Read More

Health officials advise people to work at home, postpone gatherings to slow spread of coronavirus

by Alan Boyle on March 4, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:24 am

As the coronavirus epidemic widens, public health officials in Seattle-King County are recommending that people work at home if possible — and that large gatherings of people should be postponed… Read More

Emerald City Comic Con event organizer offers ticket refunds, still plans to host event in Seattle

by Thomas Wilde on March 4, 2020March 6, 2020 at 12:19 pm

Update, Friday March 6: Emerald City Comic Con finally postpones event, relenting to backlash amid coronavirus outbreak Emerald City Comic Con organizer Reedpop has relaxed its typical no-refunds policy for… Read More

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UW Medicine ramps up new coronavirus lab test; Gates Foundation pledges $5M for detection

by Alan Boyle on March 4, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:24 am

The University of Washington School of Medicine is moving forward with a new clinical lab test for the COVID-19 coronavirus, and plans to be able to test up to 1,500… Read More

News Brief

Google bars visitors in Seattle, allows employees to work remotely amid coronavirus outbreak

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 4, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:24 am

Amazon employee in Seattle tests positive for coronavirus

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 3, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:24 am

An Amazon employee at the company’s Seattle headquarters has tested positive for the novel coronavirus spreading across the country, according to an internal email obtained by GeekWire. The employee went… Read More

High school student near Seattle builds website to serve as a leading place for coronavirus information

by Kurt Schlosser on March 3, 2020May 21, 2020 at 9:41 am

Along with his concern for the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, Avi Schiffmann was concerned about the spread of misinformation. So the 17-year-old from just outside Seattle set out to… Read More

Genetic analysis suggests coronavirus infections double every six days, spreading to hundreds

by Alan Boyle on March 2, 2020May 28, 2020 at 5:53 pm

Update for 5:50 p.m. PT May 28: An updated analysis proposes a different scenario for the origins of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak. An evolutionary analysis based on the genome sequences… Read More

Emerald City Comic Con organizers say Seattle convention will go ahead as scheduled

by Thomas Wilde on March 2, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:37 am

The company behind the Emerald City Comic Con announced that the convention will go ahead as scheduled despite rising fears over the spread of coronavirus. Event organizer ReedPOP announced Monday that… Read More

News Brief

Microsoft cancels MVP Summit in Seattle area amid coronavirus outbreak

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 2, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:24 am

F5 Tower in Seattle closes for cleaning after employee had contact with coronavirus patient

by Kurt Schlosser on March 2, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:24 am

F5 Networks closed its downtown Seattle office building on Monday for cleaning after an employee came in contact with someone who had tested positive for coronavirus. The network infrastructure and… Read More

University of Washington coronavirus puzzle game aims to crowdsource a cure

by Nat Levy on March 2, 2020April 1, 2020 at 11:39 pm

The University of Washington is taking a novel approach to combat the spread of coronavirus around the world. A new puzzle game from the university challenges scientists and the public… Read More

News Brief

Amazon asks employees to avoid ‘non-essential’ travel to mitigate coronavirus risk

by Monica Nickelsburg on February 28, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:25 am

‘No time to waste’: Bill Gates outlines actions to combat coronavirus now as well as future crises

by Kurt Schlosser on February 28, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:25 am

While governments and citizens across the globe prepare and react in assorted way to various stages of the coronavirus pandemic, Bill Gates says there “is no time to waste” and… Read More

How the coronavirus outbreak and supply chain slowdown are impacting West Coast startups

by Taylor Soper & Rachel Uranga on February 28, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:25 am

Matt McCormick always plans for the Chinese New Year. As the owner of Jet City Device Repair in Seattle, he knows there will be two weeks in winter when the… Read More

News Brief

Microsoft pulls out of Game Developers Conference due to coronavirus risk

by Taylor Soper on February 27, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:25 am

Microsoft says it will miss revenue forecast for Windows business segment due to coronavirus

by Taylor Soper on February 26, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:25 am

Microsoft said Wednesday it will miss quarterly revenue guidance for its “More Personal Computing” business segment due to the coronavirus outbreak. “Although we see strong Windows demand in line with… Read More

News Brief

Report: Amazon will pull products from third-party sellers that claim to treat coronavirus

by Monica Nickelsburg on February 21, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:25 am

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Scientists create atomic-scale map of coronavirus’ deadly weapon, pointing out a path to fighting it

by Alan Boyle on February 19, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:36 am

Biochemists have created the first 3-D, atomic-scale map of key proteins in the killer coronavirus, opening up new possibilities for developing treatments and a vaccine. Researchers at the University of… Read More

Stripe closes Seattle office for two days as precaution after learning employee had contact with coronavirus patient

by Todd Bishop on February 14, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:36 am

Payments technology company Stripe closed its Seattle engineering office for two days this week as a precaution after learning Wednesday that an employee visiting from Singapore had contact, before arriving… Read More

Bill Gates warns that coronavirus impact could be ‘very, very dramatic,’ outlines long-term solutions

by Todd Bishop on February 14, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:36 am

Bill Gates spoke with broad optimism about the potential for technology to address some of the globe’s biggest challenges, but struck an ominous tone Friday in discussing the threat posed… Read More

Mobile World Congress canceled after coronavirus fears make it ‘impossible’ to stage giant event

by Kurt Schlosser on February 12, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:36 am

Mobile World Congress, the giant mobile phone event slated to kick off in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 24, has been canceled due to fears around coronavirus after numerous companies pulled… Read More

News Brief

Amazon pulls out of Mobile World Congress tech event due to coronavirus, no word from Microsoft

by Nat Levy on February 10, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:36 am

Analyst: Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 releases could be delayed due to coronavirus outbreak

by Nat Levy on February 7, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:36 am

Nintendo has already reported production delays from the outbreak of coronavirus in China, and a Wall Street firm thinks the upcoming Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 could be next.… Read More

News Brief

Amazon and Microsoft restrict employee travel to China as tech giants react to spread of coronavirus

by Kurt Schlosser on January 29, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:37 am

Robot is helping to treat man with coronavirus in special isolation room at hospital north of Seattle

by Kurt Schlosser on January 27, 2020March 5, 2020 at 10:37 am

The man being treated for what was initially the first known case of coronavirus in the United States is being cared for in a specially designed room at Providence Regional… Read More