Today’s live coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak in western Washington.
1:30 p.m.
Public Health – Seattle & King County reported 74 news cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths. The total is now 190 cases in King County and 22 deaths.
The two deaths being reported today include;
A woman in her 80s, a resident of Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, who was hospitalized at Swedish Issaquah and died on Sunday, March 8. This case was previously reported as a positive case on Saturday, March 7.
A male in his 80s, a resident of Ida Culver House, who was hospitalized at University of Washington Medical Center and died on Monday, March 9. This case was previously reported as a positive case on Friday, March 6, in an earlier case count.
Of the 22 deaths reported, 19 are associated with Life Care Center.
According to Public Health, the department is working with 10 different senior care centers where either residents or employees have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. These centers include;
- Life Care Center of Kirkland
- Issaquah Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
- Emerald Heights
- Aegis Living at Marymoor
- Redmond Care & Rehabilitation Center
- Ida Culver House Ravenna
- Boulevard Park Place Active Retirement Community
- Madison House Independent & Assisted Living Community
- The Gardens at Juanita Bay
- Columbia Lutheran Home
10:45 a.m.
New restrictions on nursing home visits were also announced at this morning’s press conference with Gov. Jay Inslee. Residents at nursing homes in the state are limited to one visitor per day. They must be adults and the visit must take place in the resident’s room.
All visitors must wear personal protective equipment and practice social distancing. They must also sign in to a visitor log.
The governor mandated owners and operators of nursing facilities can’t disclose protected health information. Instead, the Department of Social and Health Services will contract with a case management entity to provide real-time information with family members.
“Sometimes the real need for that information can overwhelm the staff’s capacity to answer,” Inslee said.
Employees or vonunteers additionally must be screened for COVID-19 at the beginning of each shift. This will not be a full test.
10:00 a.m.
At a press conference Tuesday morning, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that state and local officials have been considering expanding isolation and quarantine measures. Specifics actions were not given, but they could include shutting down schools and events, among others. He cautioned residents to expect disruptions to business as usual.
“We’re considering those things right now, ” he said.
Inslee didn’t provide a timeline for when potential restrictions could be enacted, but said not to be surprised if he was “back here in a day.”
The official toll so far from the coronavirus outbreak is 22 deaths, 162 cases where people tested presumptive positive in eight counties. The majority of these deaths have occurred in King County.
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