17 deaths from COVID-19 in Washington as officials scramble to contain

SEATTLE — Two more deaths from coronavirus were reported Saturday, bringing the total to 17 in Washington state. So far, at least 104 have tested positive for COVID-19, health officials said.

The deaths come just a day after three people died at EvergreenHealth Medical Hospital, officials said. One earlier reported death occurred in a patient never hospitalized and the other was a death at Harborview last week that was later found to have been likely caused by COVID-19. In total, there are 28 confirmed cases of coronavirus at EvergreenHealth.

Of the 16 coronavirus deaths reported in King County, 14 are associated with Life Care Center In Kirkland. Eighteen residents have also tested positive for COVID-19, according to Tim Killian, public liaison for Life Care Center.

Killian went on to say that since February 19, Life Care Center reported 26 deaths. Since that date, 11 additional patients died at the facility. They generally have three to seven deaths a month, Killian said. Life Care Center is still waiting back for reports on post-mortem testing and whether 11 of those patients tested positive for coronavirus. They received 45 testing kits on Thursday.

As for staff coming and going day-by-day, KOMO News is told they’re following infection control protocol. “We’ve learned that the virus is volatile, unpredictable,” Killian said. Patients have gone from showing no symptoms to being rushed to the hospital in an hour

Of the 120 residents at the facility, 54 were also transported to hospitals, Killian added. It’s not clear that all 54 were transported for coronavirus or other medical reasons.

Since February 19, Life Care accounted for 180 employees with 70 of them showing symptoms. They are self-quarantining at home. As for moving seemingly healthy people out of Life Center, KOMO News is told no one wants to take them in.

“We are working overtime to take care of residents,” Killian said. “This is a larger issue than just our facility. Encouraging anyone who visited to keep in touch with their doctors. No ballpark on how many people may have visited during the outbreak.”…….

Over in Kittitas County, a 67-year-old woman also tested positive for coronavirus Saturday, according to the Kittitas County Public Health Department. The woman is in stable condition and is self-quarantined at home with her spouse.

The test results are presumptive positive from the University of Washington, which means there will still be confirmatory testing completed at the Washington State Department of Health.

The virus has spread to Clark, Pierce, Jefferson, Grant, Snohomish and Kittitas counties, the Washington State Department of Health reports. Another 156 people are under public health supervision.

A patient at Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center tested positive for COVID-19 Saturday. Three Eastside Fire and Rescue firefighters who came in contact with the patient are self-quarantining out of an abundance of caution and are currently asymptomatic…….