A man in his 80s is the second second coronavirus death in Whatcom County

A man in his 80s died at home Friday, March 20, from COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, the Whatcom County Health Department announced at a Whatcom Unified Command news conference Saturday, March 21.

The man, whose name was not released, was tested before he died. His test results came back positive Saturday morning, according to Whatcom Unified Command.

“We are deeply saddened by his passing,” said John Wolpers, environmental health manager at the Whatcom County Health Department.

He is the second person in Whatcom County to die from COVID-19. The death of a man in his 60s was announced late Thursday, March 19.

Also on Saturday, officials said that two more residents at Shuksan Healthcare Center, 1530 James St., have tested positive for COVID-19, for a total of three. They are:

▪ A woman in her 60s.

▪ And a woman in her 70s.

▪ A resident in his 80s, whose positive test was announced Friday. Officials said they didn’t release the name of the nursing home until Saturday because they needed time to notify family.

All three residents are being cared for at Shuksan, according to Cindy Hollinsworth, Communicable Disease and Epidemiology manager for the health department.

As of Saturday, a total of 14 Whatcom County residents have been diagnosed with the respiratory illness, according to the health department.

A woman in her 40s with no other information detailed was added to the list of those testing positive for COVID-19 late Saturday afternoon.

The total included a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s. Their confirmed cases were announced Friday by the Whatcom County Health Department.

Hollinsworth said it isn’t known how the virus entered Shuksan.

“We know from our case interviews and contact investigation that this is all evidence of widespread community infection,” she said, stressing the need for social distancing and for residents to stay home if they don’t need to go out.

Testing at Shuksan

A total of 37 residents at Shuksan have been tested for the virus that causes COVID-19 — 30 on Friday and seven earlier in the week, Hollinsworth said.

The residents tested earlier in the week were among the three confirmed cases at the 52-bed skilled nursing facility. They were tested because they had symptoms of COVID-19, according to a statement from Shuksan.

In addition, a total of seven employees who had respiratory symptoms were tested on Friday, Hollinsworth said, and have been barred from the facility pending test results.

Test results are expected back in 48 to 72 hours.

Shuksan Healthcare Center has about 90 employees, including housekeeping and dietary workers, according to Hollinsworth.

All residents who consented have been tested. People who were in close contact with the three confirmed cases at Shuksan will be notified and instructed on appropriate precautions, according to Whatcom Unified Command, which is overseeing the COVID-19 response in Whatcom County.

Residents of Shuksan Healthcare Center have been isolated and, with staff, will continue to be monitored frequently for symptoms.

“Staff at the facility have been taking proactive measures to protect residents and staff due to the threat of COVID-19. They have also been following the orders under the governor’s proclamation from March 16, which included prohibiting visitors and screening all staff for fever and respiratory symptoms daily,” according to Whatcom Unified Command.

Shuksan said that since receiving the test results, it has notified family members and residents, including those residents who were discharged from its facility in the last 14 days. It also has contacted home health care agencies, assisted living facilities and other medical clinics used by residents.

Shuksan said its infection control measures included screening all staff for illness when they arrive for work, barring all visitors, increasing the frequency of cleaning, wearing personal protective equipment, and assessing residents’ temperature, oxygen saturation and lung sounds twice a day.

In its statement, Shuksan said it was “focused on the care and safety of our residents and we will continue to take all possible measures to protect the health and safety of our residents and staff. We will be following their guidance as we work to limit the spread of the disease.”

“This is a very stressful and emotional time for our residents and families,” Shuksan said, adding that it was stressful for staff as well.

Shuksan won’t be the only one to have confirmed cases, according to Hollinsworth.

“I would say given the community spread that we know is out there and looking at our partners in King and Snohomish, that it is highly likely that we will see more cases in our facilities,” she said.

More than 287,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 11,900 deaths as of Saturday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has more than 19,900 confirmed cases, with at least 275 deaths.

The Washington State Department of Health reported 94 deaths and 1,793 confirmed cases in the state as of Saturday afternoon.

And while state data showed the illness has struck people of all ages, it has been particularly deadly for those who are older.

This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 10:15 AM.