COVID omicron variant will impact Bellingham meetings, remote workers

Many Bellingham city workers didn’t return to their offices after the Christmas and New Year’s holidays last week as planned, and City Council meetings will remain online amid a new surge of COVID-19 infections that’s taxing the health care system in Whatcom County and elsewhere.

“In light of the omicron variant and the spike we’re seeing we decided not to implement that,” Mayor Seth Fleetwood said at a City Council meeting Monday, Jan. 3.

“Right now we’re in a holding pattern” with limited in-person services for now, Fleetwood said.

“Status quo and remote, and to be determined,” he said.

Bellingham City Council and its appointed boards and commissions will take guidance regarding in-person meetings from the Mayors’ Office, said Council President Hannah Stone.

“We will continue to meet remotely for the indefinite future,” Stone said.

This story was originally published January 10, 2022 at 5:00 AM.

Robert Mittendorf

The Bellingham Herald

360-756-2805

Robert Mittendorf covers civic issues, weather, traffic and how people are coping with the high cost of housing for The Bellingham Herald. A journalist since 1984, he also served 22 years as a volunteer firefighter for South Whatcom Fire Authority before retiring in 2025.