U.S. care facility battling massive virus outbreak

SEATTLE — Since the first case was reported late last month, 94 people associated with a long-term-care facility in Stanwood, Wash., have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the Snohomish Health District.

Of the 94 infections at Josephine Caring Community, 53 are among residents and 41 are staff members. Heather Thomas, spokesperson for the health district, said in an email Saturday that at least “a few” of the infected people have been hospitalized. She was unsure whether any have died.

The number of cases nearly tripled in the past three days, the health district reported. This is the second large outbreak connected to the facility, located about 80 kilometres north of Seattle.

Though the number of outbreaks in long-term-care facilities has remained largely steady since March and April, new outbreaks at facilities previously hit by COVID-19 could be part of the resurgence of the virus in the state. On Saturday, for the second day in a row, state health officials reported a record number of daily cases in Washington, with 2,233 new COVID-19 cases.

“As we learned early on in this pandemic, COVID-19 infections can spread incredibly fast in congregate living environments like these,” Dr. Chris Spitters, the county’s health officer, said in a statement. “This is why we have taken such drastic measures in Snohomish County and statewide to protect these vulnerable populations.”

The first case in this outbreak was reported Oct. 26. In early October, the facility posted on its website that it was monitoring three or more residents and staff with respiratory symptoms in the skilled nursing side of the facility, but wrote each week until the week the first case was reported that “we continue to be COVID-19 free.”

Health district staff are supporting the facility’s staff as they investigate and work to bring the outbreak under control.