32 new coronavirus cases at Shuksan nursing home bumps Whatcom to fourth-highest in state
An outbreak in a Bellingham nursing home that sharply increased the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Whatcom County has bumped the county’s case count to the fourth-highest in Washington state.
As of Monday afternoon, March 23, a total of 48 Whatcom County residents were diagnosed with the respiratory illness. No new cases have been reported in the county since Sunday night.
Of that total, 26 were residents of Shuksan Healthcare Center at 1530 James St., and six worked at the nursing home, the Whatcom County Health Department announced over the weekend.
Shuksan makes up nearly 67% of all the confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in Whatcom County as of Monday afternoon.
King, Snohomish and Pierce have the highest numbers of confirmed cases of the 31 counties in Washington state that have so far reported people diagnosed with the illness. Overall, the Washington State Department of Health reported 2,221 cases and 110 deaths reported at 3 p.m. Monday.
The three counties have the most cases and deaths by far. King County has 1,170 cases and 87 deaths. Snohomish has 519 cases and 11 deaths. Pierce County has 126 cases and 1 death.
As for Whatcom, the county has two COVID-19 deaths, a man in his 60s and a man in his 80s who was discharged from Shuksan on March 10 and then died at home on Friday, March 20. He developed symptoms after being discharged, according to the Whatcom Health Department.
Also on Monday, the number of negative test results reported for Whatcom County grew to 319.
Skagit County reported its first coronavirus death on Monday in a press release, stating that a woman in her 80s, who was a patient at Skagit Valley Hospital, had died. The woman was part of cluster of cases Skagit reported on Saturday, March 21, and was one of the 45 positive tests the county has recorded.
More than 374,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 16,400 deaths as of Monday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has more than 42,800 confirmed cases, with at least 570 deaths.
Lummi shelter in place
The Lummi Nation on Sunday passed a shelter in place order that went into effect at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 22, according to a Lummi Communications Facebook post. The order mandates Lummi Nation community members stay home except for essential activities, such as fishing or hunting; grocery shopping; seeking medical care or going to a pharmacy; going to the bank; caring for a sick community member; getting gas, diesel or propane; outdoor activities; and traveling to or from work.
Lummi Nation Police Chief Robert Wilson reported during the first day of the order, traffic on the Nation appears to have been reduced.
“The community has responded in a positive manner about the shelter in place, and I believe they understand the gravity of the situation facing Lummi Nation,” Wilson told The Bellingham Herald in an email. “The council continues to monitor and adjust its response to this COVID-19 attack.”
Wilson reported the order gives the police department an educational role, rather than an enforcement role.
“This is more about teaching and protecting, not about punishing,” Wilson wrote. “In addition, I must be concerned with my officers’ health and safety when they are out contacting the community.”
Reporter Kie Relyea would like to talk to employees or family members of residents at Shuksan Healthcare Center. Please contact her at krelyea@bhamherald.com. We won’t use your name without your permission.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
COVID-19, the new coronavirus, is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2.
The disease is spread through contact between people within six feet of each other, especially through coughing and sneezing that expels respiratory droplets that land in the mouths or noses of people nearby.
Although most of the cases have been mild, the disease is especially dangerous for the elderly and others with weaker immune systems.
Click the drop-down icon in the upper right of this card for more information on symptoms and how to stop its spread.
What you can do
Here’s what you can do to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, according to the Whatcom County Health Department.
▪ Keep six feet between yourself and others when in public.
▪ Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
▪ Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth with hands that haven’t been washed.
▪ Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, throw the tissue in the trash and then wash your hands.
▪ Stay home if you feel sick. Avoid others who are sick.
▪ If your symptoms are severe and require medical care, call your doctor first.
This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 3:31 PM.
