The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is an evolving situation with more than 30,000 confirmed cases and over 400 deaths in Yakima County.

Vaccine information, distribution

A drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic at State Fair Park is open by appointment for those who are currently eligible under the vaccine distribution plan. The site has administered nearly 40,000 vaccinations to date. The State Fair Park site’s hours of operation changed effective May 27th.

Register for an appointment on site, on Prep-Mod or call 1-800-525-0127, press 7 for Spanish.

Information about COVID-19 vaccine phases, vaccine locations and instructions on signing up for a vaccine is also available on the Yakima Health District website at COVID-19 Vaccine | Yakima County, WA

Individuals who would like to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine should follow these four steps:
Step 1: Determine Eligibility using Phase Finder www.FindYourPhaseWA.Org
Step 2: Identify a location that is currently distributing vaccines using the Yakima Health District Website
Step 3: Contact the location to schedule an appointment. Each location will have a preferred method of contact listed on the Yakima Health District website
Step 4: Go to your first appointment and mark your calendar for your second dose. Individuals are recommended to schedule their second dose at the same location where they received their first dose.

The Yakima City Council encourages all adults to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Grants for businesses impacted by COVID-19

During the past 12 months, the Yakima City Council set aside over $2 million in COVID-19 relief funds, assisting more than 250 small businesses to help address the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions.

Most recently, the City of Yakima dedicated $266,406 for a second round of assistance for micro-businesses (five or fewer employees) for reimbursement of expenses related to COVID-19. The money was available for low or moderate-income business owners, with five employees or less, in the Yakima city limits. It was funded through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), a Federal program intended to expand economic opportunities for low and moderate-income persons.

“Healthy Washington” recovery plan

Yakima County and all of Washington state are in Phase 3 of the state’s “Healthy Washington” recovery plan.

The Yakima Health District has issued re-opening guidance for fully vaccinated people in response to updates provided by the CDC and Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday, May 13th.

City of Yakima response and precautions

• We encourage you to use our online services. They include the City’s Online Permit Center and utility services webpages.
• City board, commission, and committee meetings are being held via Zoom. City Council meetings are being held via Zoom.
• Parks and Recreation:
• Lions Pool is open for lap swims and water walking. COVID-19 protocols are in place.
• Tennis and pickleball courts, as well as the dog park at Randall Park are open with social distancing requirements posted onsite.
• Yakima Parks and Recreation is offering virtual recreation programs.
• Public Safety:
• The Yakima Police Department encourages you to utilize the online and telephone reporting systems as much as possible. YPD has created online tutorial videos in English and Spanish.
• When responding to EMS aid calls, Yakima Fire Department firefighters are wearing personal protective equipment, including N95 masks and gowns.
• Airport/Transit:
• Yakima Transit buses operate as normally scheduled. Bus passes and tickets can be purchased at the Transit Center, calling 575-6175 (passes will be mailed if ordered via telephone) or at Wray’s Grocery Stores in Yakima. To protect passengers and drivers, Yakima Transit continues daily disinfection procedures in all its vehicles and facilities. Passengers are required to wear masks in accordance with federal requirements.
• The Yakima Airport offers free masks to passengers, staff and visitors. Masks are required at the airport in accordance with state and federal requirements.

Precautions you can take

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following precautions to avoid COVID-19:

• Social distancing
• Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.
• Wear a facemask.
• If you are over the age of 60 or have a serious underlying health condition, stay home and away from other people.

City of Yakima COVID-19 communications

Click https://www.yakimawa.gov/media/news/category/covid-19/ for all City of Yakima news releases related to COVID-19, as well as news releases from other agencies related to COVID-19 that the City has shared.

Following are videos the City’s Community Relation’s Office produced in response to COVID-19

• Recording updates for the Yakima Health District.
• A Y-PAC Check-ins video series with City of Yakima updates.
• Click https://www.youtube.com/c/CityofYakimaWA to see more videos produced by the Community Relations Office.

Helpful links

The CDC has extensive information about the coronavirus outbreak.

The Yakima Health District provides updates on COVID-19 and a website dedicated to sharing information about stopping the spread of the virus.

The Yakima Health District also issued a directive strongly recommending that Yakima County residents wear masks when they are in public.

A guide for Yakima County businesses seeking to re-open is available at https://yvopenandsafe.com/

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has a page dedicated to the virus.

A DOH coronavirus hotline is available by calling 1-800-525-0127 and pressing #

The World Health Organization COVID-19 page is here.

The Yakima County Development Association offers an online Resource Guide for businesses dealing with COVID-19.

Washington Listens offers support for those experiencing stress and anxiety due to COVID-19. Call 1-833-681-0211, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 9 pm and weekends from 9 am to 6 pm – https://walistens.org

Food support

Following are food banks in the Yakima area offering support to families:

• People for People Meals on Wheels distribute 7 days worth of meals for seniors every Monday from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. Call 426-2601 to sign up and for details. Meals are distributed drive-thru style.
• The Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Washington Food Bank, 1419 Hathaway Street, offers a drive-thru food bank from 9 to 11:30 am each Tuesday and Thursday.
• Yakima Seventh-day Adventist Food Bank, 507 N. 35th Ave. 9:30-11:30 am every Tuesday.
• Sunrise Outreach Center Yakima Food Bank, 221 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 10 am to noon every Thursday. 
• Salvation Army of Yakima Food Bank, 9 S. 6th St. 2-4 p.m. Monday-Friday with seniors-only hour 1-2 pm. 
• Henry Beauchamp Community Center food bank, 1211 S. 7th St.: 12:30 pm until food runs out every Monday. 
• Yakima County Veterans Services food pantry, 128 N. 2nd St., Room 103: 8 am to 4 pm Monday-Friday, veterans only. 
• Yakima Rotary Food Bank, 703 Central Ave. 8:30 am to noon every Friday.