A longtime and respected Kittitas County resident has died from COVID-19 complications, according to the Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD). This is the first COVID-19 related death for Kittitas County. The person tested positive on April 3 and died at the University of Washington Medical Center on April 5. 

The press release states the person has recently been residing and receiving care outside of the county.

“We know this person had friends and loved ones, a strong religious community, and is missed by many,” KCPHD Health Officer Mark Larson said in a press release. 

 No further information is being released about the individual out of respect for loved ones. 

KCPHD launched a new data dashboard, displaying the COVID-19 outbreak in Kittitas County. As of April 8 there are 15 confirmed cases with a single death in the county. The April 5 death is the death reported on KCPHD’s data dashboard. There have been 426 negative tests with 34 tests still pending. 

With more than 8,600 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order has been extended through May 4. The order bans all gatherings and requires nonessential businesses to close.

Essential businesses include grocery stores, food banks, gas stations and other similar locations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommended everybody who leaves the house should wear a face mask. 

“We have taken dozens of steps under my emergency powers to help people in this time – including moratoriums on evictions, mortgage forbearance, utility ratepayer assistance, unemployment extensions, flexibility on tax payments and cash assistance to families,” Inslee said in a press release.