Lummi Health links latest coronavirus cluster to families visiting others
The Lummi Public Health Department reported Friday, May 1, that five Lummi Nation community members under the age of 40 have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. It also announced two more cases in the community Saturday, May 2, but ages for those patients were not included in the news release.
That brings the number of Lummi community members under the age of 40 who have tested positive for the new coronavirus in the last three days to at least 13. Eight under-40 Lummi community members were reported Thursday, April 30, for testing positive for COVID-19.
“It is apparent that families and their children are not following the ‘Shelter in Place’ order and not practicing social distancing,” the Lummi health department statement said. “Part of this new cluster involves families visiting other households.”
The 15 new cases announced Thursday-Satrday bring the total number of infected Lummi community members to 40. The Lummi health department reported of the 16 whose ages were reported Thursday and Friday:
▪ 44% were people 19 and younger.
▪ 50% were people between ages 20 and 29.
▪ 6% were people between ages 30 and 39.
Before Wednesday, April 29, Lummi had not reported a new coronavirus case since April 19.
The Lummi Indian Business Council on March 22 ordered all people living on the Lummi Reservation in Whatcom County to shelter in place due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Lummi public health department said in the release that it was working to identify close contacts with the people who tested positive, instructing them to self-quarantine and offering testing to those who were exposed and experiencing symptoms.
On Saturday, the Whatcom County Health Department reported three more positive tests for COVID-19, bringing the county’s total to 314 cases and 28 related deaths. Because the county health department does not release the location of cases, it is not known how many of the new Lummi cases the past three days are included in the county’s total.
This story was originally published May 2, 2020 at 12:52 PM.
