Science in Support of Local Decision Making for COVID-19: A Dialogue with the Tri-Cities Business Community

What is the role of COVID-19 testing in helping businesses operate during the pandemic?

This virtual event will explore questions about the role of COVID-19 testing as one tool to help local businesses operate safely and successfully during the pandemic.

• Participating panelists will include representatives of the Tri-Cities business community and scientists with expertise in COVID-19 testing.
• In a facilitated dialogue, they will explore the types of tests that are available and how to interpret results in the context of decisions being made by business owners.
• The viewing audience will have the opportunity to submit questions.

Opening remarks will be provided by Chris Fall (DOE), Steve Ashby (PNNL), and Roger Myers (WSAS).

The dialogue will be moderated by Howard Frumkin, former Dean of the UW School of Public Health.

Confirmed panelists include Kristin Omberg (PNNL), David Hansen (Western Washington University), Amy Person (Benton-Franklin Health District), Karl Dye (TriDEC), Eric Pearson (Community First Bank), Frank Harrill (Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories), and LoAnn Ayers (United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties).

Community partners that helped to inform and advertise this event include: TriDEC, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Columbia Basin Badger Club, Benton-Franklin Community Health Alliance, Coalition for a Healthy Benton City, KEY Connection, and Pasco Discovery Coalition.
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This event is co-hosted by the Washington State Academy of Sciences and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.