Number of confirmed coronavirus cases jumps to 70 in Washington state; death toll at 11
The number of coronavirus COVID-19 cases is rising in Washington state.
According to Washington state Department of Health numbers released Thursday morning, the number of confirmed coronavirus COVID-19 cases jumped to 70 from Wednesday’s reported 39 cases.
The death toll is now at 11, with an additional death reported in King County on Thursday. There are no confirmed cases in Pierce County as of Thursday morning.
Snohomish County now has 18 cases, with one death; King County has 51 confirmed cases and 10 deaths, and a new case was announced this morning in Grant County.
The state is no longer reporting how many are under supervision, “consistent with other disease outbreaks, where the state generally only reports confirmed cases.”
Angry relatives of patients at Kirkland Life Care facility, where the bulk of the cases have been reported in King County, met with members of the media Thursday outside of the facility.
Relatives cited delays in testing, lack of proper quarantine methods and lack of communication with public health officials along with an overwhelmed staff ill-prepared for such an event.
“To date, no one from the CDC has made themselves available to us,” said Kevin Connolly, whose father-in-law is at the facility. “Where are the CDC? Where are the trained professionals?”
“I want people tested and sick people removed and this facility cleaned top to bottom,” he said.
In a statement posted on the Kirkland center’s website Wednesday, Ellie Basham, Life Care executive director, wrote: “Current residents and associates continue to be monitored closely. Associates are actively monitored through temperature and symptom screening at the beginning of work and at the end of their shift. We are also implementing the infection control recommendations provided by state and local health departments and the CDC. While our associates are dedicated to providing care to our residents, if an associate exhibits symptoms, they are asked to self-quarantine at home.”
Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the Trump administration’s national coronavirus response, visited Camp Murray on Thursday afternoon to meet with Gov. Jay Inslee.
Pence, in remarks Thursday, noted that “The president wanted me to be here today to make it crystal clear that we’re with you.”
Pence also noted the “swift and bipartisan” efforts of Congress approving $8.3 billion in federal funding for the coronavirus response.
Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier was among the officials present for the roundtable meeting with Pence.
Earlier, the Kirkland Life Care relatives of its residents called on Pence to come to the site.
“Mr. Pence, please come and visit us inside,” said Colleen Mallory, whose mother is in the facility.
“If they have time to have press conferences to answer your questions, they have time to answer ours,” said Connolly.
Earlier Thursday, Inslee announced that the state is working to ensure workers’ compensation protections for health care workers and first responders on the front lines of the outbreak.
According to a Thursday news release, the state’s Department of Labor and Industries “is immediately changing its policy around workers’ compensation coverage for health care workers and first responders who are quarantined by a physician or public health officer. Under the clarified policy, L&I will provide benefits to these workers during the time they’re quarantined after being exposed to COVID-19 on the job.”
“These health care workers and first responders are protecting our communities,” Inslee said in the release. “They need to know that we have their backs. This is the right thing to do.”
According to L&I, Workers’ comp coverage can include medical testing, cover treatment expenses if a worker becomes ill or injured and provide time-loss payments for those who cannot work if they are sick or quarantined.
The state Health Officer, Dr. Kathy Lofy, said those who are experiencing a fever and cough should not worry about getting tested for the coronavirus.
“You don’t really need to be tested, we don’t have medications, and medical management will be the same,” Lofy said in a press conference on Thursday.
Because there isn’t medication for the virus, healthcare providers would recommend the same measures as other respiratory viruses.
She does recommend those who are sick and at a higher risk, including chronic medical conditions, pregnant women and the elderly, to call their primary care doctors and be tested for influenza.
Inslee on Thursday also recommended Washingtonians avoid unnecessary gatherings.
Anyone sick is asked not to visit assisted living centers or nursing homes.
The state also has ordered insurance providers to waive costs for COVID-19 testing. If in-network providers are overloaded for testing, patients can also see out-of-network healthcare providers at no cost.
The State Health Department Secretary Joe Wiesman said the state lab has reached testing capacity, but more labs are becoming stocked with equipment to test for the virus. The University of Washington’s lab is stocked and prepared to test up to 1,500 tests per day. Private testing labs, like Quest and LabCorp, are also expected to receive the necessary equipment in the coming days, Wiesman said.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention initially sent Washington testing kits that were defective, according to the CDC. New test kits were sent out, but it is unclear when.
A team of 28 physicians, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses are expected to fly in this week to assist clinicians in responding to the outbreak.
“This situation does remain serious,” Wiesman said at a Thursday news conference.
CLOVER PARK CAMPUSES REOPEN
Two Clover Park Technical College campuses are back in operation Thursday (March 5) after they were closed for cleaning as a precaution against coronavirus (COVID-19).
Clover Park Technical College suspended Lakewood and South Hill campus operations Wednesday (March 4) after reports of a student under quarantine with symptoms similar to coronavirus.
In a message posted Thursday, College President Joyce Loveday said in a statement: “The South Hill and Lakewood campuses have undergone a disinfecting process.”
TACOMA JAZZ WALK POSTPONED
The 2020 Tacoma Jazz Walk will be postponed to a later date amid coronavirus concerns.
The event scheduled for Saturday is canceled in response to the recommendations of national, state and county public health officials, Jazz Clubs Northwest said in a statement Thursday.
“Effective immediately, we are suspending ticket sales and will begin processing complete refunds of all pre-purchased tickets,” Jazz Clubs NW posted at tacomajazzwalk.com. “If you are a ticket holder, you will receive a separate email confirming a refund to the credit card used for your purchase.”
— Allison Needles, The News Tribune
STATE ADDING STAFF TO CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE
A state Department of Health hotline and call center established to field calls about the coronavirus has experienced a high volume of calls since Monday, sometimes resulting in dropped calls or long wait times.
But a spokeswoman for the department said Wednesday that the size of the call center has been quadrupled and “additional capacity” in the form of more phone lines is coming.
The department also is working on setting up a backup call center, but spokeswoman Danielle Koenig acknowledged they are dealing with some “technical hurdles.”
— Rolf Boone, The Olympian
THREE MORE IN WHATCOM COUNTY TESTED
Three more people in Whatcom County are being tested for the new coronavirus, according to updated information on the Whatcom County Health Department website.
That doubles to six the number of people tested in recent days to find out if they’re sick with the respiratory illness.
As of Thursday, March 5, no one has tested positive for COVID-19 in Whatcom County.
— Kie Relyea, The Belliingham Herald
This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 11:28 AM with the headline "Number of confirmed coronavirus cases jumps to 70 in Washington state; death toll at 11."
