Whatcom County Health Department reports six new coronavirus cases Tuesday
Six more Whatcom County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, according to data released Tuesday, May 12, by the Whatcom County Health Department, but no new deaths linked to coronavirus were reported.
The county now has had 342 confirmed cases of the respiratory illness since the first positive test was announced on March 10. Of those, 32 people have died.
Since reporting no new cases on Saturday, May 9, the health department has logged 13 new cases so far this week.
The health department also reported 20 more negative test results Tuesday, bringing the total to 3,235.
St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham reports it is treating one patient who tested positive for COVID-19 and has no patients awaiting test results.
More than 4.2 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 289,000 deaths as of Monday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has more than 1.3 million confirmed cases — the most reported cases of any nation — with at least 81,571 deaths.
Overall, the Washington State Department of Health reported 17,122 cases and 945 deaths Monday evening.
Shuksan admits new COVID resident
Shuksan Healthcare Center reported in a Facebook post Monday that it has admitted a new resident who had previously tested positive for COVID-19. Including information the Bellingham nursing facility reported last week, the resident is the fourth currently being treated for coronavirus in a separate wing at the facility.
Shuksan was the site of a coronavirus outbreak announced March 22. The disease spread to 54 people at the facility — 31 patients and 23 employees — and 10 residents who tested positive for COVID-19 while at the facility died.
Shuksan, which began accepting new COVID-positive patients on April 22, reported last week that 23 longer-term residents who previously tested positive for COVID-19 have “stabilized,” and it now reports it has 30 residents total.
Lynden Manor clear
Lynden Manor reported in a statement posted to its website on Friday, May 8, that it has been cleared of COVID-19 since April 17.
The assisted living residence reported that it had a total of 14 residents test positive for coronavirus and two who tested positive die. Nine of the 14 residents who tested positive remained mostly asymptomatic.
Despite the all clear and in accordance with requirements from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health departments, the facility said it is still asking family to not visit residents until restrictions are lifted.
