COVID Confirmed Kings Co Washington - 1 Patient 1 HCW - 52 Symptomatic

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CDC press conference cites 1 HCW, 1 patient presumptive positives at long term care facility (Kirkwood)

52 patients and staff symptomatic

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Life Care Center in Kirkland

108 residents

180 staff

https://lcca.com/locations/wa/kirkland/

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27 residents symptomatic

25 staff symptomatic

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King County patient dies after testing positive for coronavirus, the first in the U.S.

By KARI PLOG • 1 HOUR AGO

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  EvergreenHealth in Monroe. A patient at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland has died after testing positive for coronavirus.

  WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

A patient in King County who tested positive for coronavirus has died, according to public health officials. It's believed to be the first coronavirus death in the U.S. The news prompted Gov. Jay Inslee to declare a state of emergency. 

Kirkland-based EvergreenHealth Hospital said in a statement that the patient came to the facility with serious respiratory issues before testing positive for the virus, also known as COVID-19. 

King County health officials confirmed Saturday afternoon that the patient was a man in his 50s. There are two other patients believed to have contracted coronavirus at LifeCare, long-term care facility in Kirkland: a resident and an employee. The employee, a woman in her 40s, is in satisfactory condition at Overlake Hosptial. The resident, a woman in her 70s, is in serious condition at EvergreenHealth.  

Additionally, more than 50 residents at LifeCare are experiencing respiratory symptoms and more positive cases are expected. Of the 108 residents and 180 staff members at the nursing facility, 27 residents and 25 staff members are reportedly experiencing some sort of respiratory symptoms.

Local health officials are actively working to test and treat to contain spreading of the virus; the CDC is flying in tonight to assist.

Health officials are holding a press conference at 1 p.m. to provide the latest details in the death. While the patient tested positive for the virus, it has not been confirmed that the death was a direct result of the diagnosis.

The governor issued a statement following the death.

“It is a sad day in our state as we learn that a Washingtonian has died from COVID-19,” Inslee said, offering condolences to the patient’s family and friends. “We will continue to work toward a day where no one dies from this virus.”

In his proclamation declaring a state of emergency, Inslee directed state agencies to use all resources necessary to prepare for and respond to the outbreak.

“This will allow us to get the resources we need,” Inslee said in a statement. “This is a time to take common-sense, proactive measures to ensure the health and safety of those who live in Washington state. Our state agency directors have been actively preparing since the nation’s first case appeared in Snohomish County. Washingtonians can be assured we’ve taken this threat seriously and have been working in collaboration with our health care partners to develop plans and procedures to prepare for what could likely be a world-wide pandemic.”

The directive calls upon state agencies and departments to do “everything reasonably possible to assist affected communities.”

Inslee stressed in his statement that the easiest way to slow the spread of the virus is to practice good hygiene: “wash your hands often, sanitize frequently touched surfaces and stay home when you're sick.”

Saturday's news of the death came less than 24 hours after health officials announced that testing at the state public health lab detected two new cases: one found in a high school student in Snohomish County, and another linked to travel. They are being classified as "presumptive" until testing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta confirms the results. 

"We are going to find more individuals so we really believe that the risk at this point is increasing,” Washington State Health Officer Kathy Lofy said on Friday. 

The student from Snohomish County who is believed to have the virus became sick with a fever and body aches at the beginning of the week.

He returned briefly to Jackson High School in Everett on Friday when he started to feel better. He is recovering at home in isolation.

"There was no travel history associated with this,” said Dr. Chris Spitters, who is the health officer at the Snohomish Health District. “Our team is still in the midst of the contact investigation, so we still don't know the possible source of infection. Our staff have notified a very small number of students who came in contact with the individuals.”

Everett Public Schools is sanitizing Jackson High School through the weekend, and has closed the school Monday to complete the job.

Meanwhile, students enrolled in study abroad programs at Washington universities are also being affected by the spread of the virus, which has now been detected in more than 50 countries.

Gonzaga University said earlier this week that it's suspending its program in Florence, Italy, and asking its 161 students to return to their home residences. Italy has had the most cases in Europe so far.

Washington State University and the University of Washington are monitoring the situation closely but advising students to stay put for now.

The latest information about coronavirus can be found at the state Department of Health's website. 

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First death due to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in a resident of King County

Posted by Sharon Bogan

Public Health – Seattle & King County, Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are reporting today three presumptive positive cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), including one person who died.

Two of the confirmed cases are associated with LifeCare nursing facility in Kirkland, King County, Washington: 

• One is a health care worker from LifeCare. She is a woman in her 40’s, is currently in satisfactory condition at Overlake Hospital, and she has no known travel outside the United States. 
• The second case, a woman in her 70’s, is a resident at LifeCare and is in serious condition at EvergreenHealth Hospital. 
• In addition, over 50 individuals associated with LifeCare are reportedly ill with respiratory symptoms or hospitalized with pneumonia or other respiratory conditions of unknown cause and are being tested for COVID-19. Additional positive cases are expected.

The death occurred in a patient at EvergreenHealth Hospital but was not a resident of the long-term care facility.

Public Health – Seattle & King County is current working with LifeCare to provide care for ill patients while protecting uninfected patients. The CDC is sending a team of epidemiologists to King County to support our efforts to identify, isolate and test all of those who may be at risk because of these new cases.

Public Health is at the very beginning stages of this investigation and new details and information will emerge over the next days and weeks.

“This is a tragic loss of life and we share our heartfelt condolences with the family,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “While the vast majority of cases of COVID-19 are believed to be mild, the virus can be a very serious infection that can lead to death. Protecting the health of our community and supporting the care of health care workers is our top priority.”

“I know this news is alarming, but we are doing everything possible to make sure the public is safe. Earlier today I declared an emergency proclamation directing state agencies to use all resources necessary to prepare for and respond to the outbreak. The best thing people can do to help is remain informed and take routine health precautions,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. “Our public health officials at the state, local and national levels are working diligently on this, coordinating efforts and keeping the public safe and informed.”

“We are fortunate to have one of the best public health agencies in the nation, and we are pulling all available resources into the fight against COVID-19. King County is reviewing all government operations, and we are standing up an Emergency Operations Center to respond appropriately across all agencies and public services. I urge businesses and families to plan and take precautions, referring to Public Health for best practices,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.

For more information about COVID-19 in King County visit: www.kingcounty.gov/coronavirus

https://publichealthinsider.com/2020/02/29/first-death-due-to-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-in-a-resident-of-king-county/

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Media Statement

 

For Immediate Release

Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020                                                    

 

Contact: CDC Media Relations

404-639-3286

 

 

CDC, Washington State Report First COVID-19 Death

There also are ongoing investigations into possible outbreaks in health care settings

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health officials in the state of Washington have reported three hospitalized patients who have tested presumptive-positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, including one patient who died.

 

• Two of the patients are from a long-term care facility (LTCF) where one is a health care worker. Additional residents and staff of the LTCF who have not yet been tested for COVID-19 are reportedly either ill with respiratory symptoms or hospitalized with pneumonia of unknown cause.

 

• The patient who died, a male in his 50s, was being treated at the same hospital. He was not a resident of the LTCF. CDC erroneously identified the patient as female in a briefing earlier today with the President and Vice President.

 

While there is an ongoing investigation, the source of these infections is currently unknown. Circumstances suggest person-to-person spread in the community, including in the LTCF.

 

CDC spokesperson Dr. Nancy Messonnier said, "Our hearts go out to the family of the patient who died as well as the families of the people who are caught up in this outbreak. The health of the residents, staff and community of this skilled nursing facility are a top priority. We will work with Public Health - Seattle and King County to support the care of the patients, the safety of the health care workers, and the well-being of the people in the surrounding community.”

 

This is the first reported death in the United States from COVID-19, as well as the first reported case in a health care worker and the first possible outbreak in a LTCF. These reports from Washington follow others of community spread in Oregon and two places in California earlier this week. While there is still much to learn about the unfolding situations in California, Oregon and Washington, preliminary information raises the level of concern about the immediate threat for COVID-19 for certain communities in the United States. Most people in the United States will have little immediate risk of exposure to this virus, but some people will be at increased risk depending on their exposures. The greatest risk is to those who have been in close contact with people with COVID-19. People with suspected or confirmed exposure should reach out to their state or local public health department.

 

CDC is sending a team of experts to support the investigation in Washington. Dr. Messonnier said, "We recognize that this is a difficult time; we are facing a historic public health challenge. We will continue to respond to COVID-19 in an aggressive way to contain and blunt the threat of this virus. While we still hope for the best, we continue to prepare for this virus to become widespread in the United States."

 

These three cases bring the total number of COVID-19 cases detected through the U.S. public health system to 22. The federal government will continue to respond aggressively to this rapidly evolving situation.

 

Testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 was conducted in Washington state using the CDC rRT-PCR. Results will be confirmed at CDC, but a presumptive positive result using the CDC test is treated as a positive for public health response purposes and a coordinated public health response has begun.

 

For more information about COVID-19 visit www.cdc.gov/covid19.

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2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Washington
Positive (confirmed) * †	13
Deaths	2
* Positive Snohomish County - 3 King - 10, including 2 deaths † Please contact the local health department for information.

Number of People Under Public Health Supervision
Number of people under public health supervision ‡	231
‡ The number of people under public health supervision includes those at risk of having been exposed to novel coronavirus who are monitoring their health under the supervision of public health officials. This number includes close contacts of laboratory confirmed cases, as well as people who have returned from China in the past 14 days and are included in federal quarantine guidance.

Last updated: Mar 1, 2020 at 5:55 p.m.