A handful of articles on the local and statewide COVID-19 situation in the Feb. 16 issue of the Weekly News provide confusing messaging on the seriousness of the public’s role in the pandemic.

Overall, Skagit County hospitalizations and positive cases are lessening. But per page two and page three articles, hospitalization cases are “still quite high,” local Fire District 13 is forced by the virus crisis to run smaller crews and return to zoom meetings, and the statewide move to end the indoor mask mandate is “in transition” while the mandate remains in place. (Feb. 17 update ......