As COVID Strains Eastern and Central WA, Murray Pushes for Major Investments in Public Health

Today, as COVID-19 patients continue to fill hospitals across Eastern and Central Washington and state health officials are requesting federal help to address health care staffing shortages, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, held a press call with public health officials and health care professionals from Spokane and Yakima on the current state of COVID in Eastern and Central Washington, and the critical need for sustained public health investments.

Senator Murray was joined by Andre Fresco, Executive Director of Yakima Health District; Dr. Martin Brueggemann, Chief Medical Officer, Yakima Valley Memorial hospital; Dr. Francisco Velázquez, Health Officer at Spokane Regional Health District; and Dr. Daniel Getz, the Chief Medical Officer for Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Providence Holy Family Hospital.

During the call, Senator Murray stressed the urgent need for everyone who is able to get vaccinated in order to combat the ongoing COVID crisis in Washington state, and highlighted the critical public health investments she is working to include in Democrats’ Build Back Better budget to support public health officials, hospitals, and health care workers.