Long-term care facility cases considered outbreaks
July 17, 2020
Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD) reported three COVID-19 outbreaks in association with the long-term care facilities that have seen positive cases in the past week. All patients are currently stable.
An outbreak in this context is defined as two or more non-household cases occurring within 14 days in a workplace, congregate living or institutional setting, according to the Washington State Department of Health.
Meadows Place Assisted Living Community has two staff members that have tested positive. All residents and staff were tested on July 9th, and no residents have tested positive at this time.
Pacifica Senior Living in Ellensburg has two positive residents. An additional case at Pacifica was transferred to another facility on July 14, according to a KCPHD press release. The county’s Incident Management Team (IMT) will be conducting mass testing at Pacifica on July 17.
As of July 17, the Kittitas Valley branch of Prestige Post-Acute and Rehab has 59 positive cases, made up of 37 residents and 22 staff. The IMT continues to conduct case and contact tracing to ensure anyone who has come into contact with COVID-19 and who need to isolate or quarantine are notified.
All long-term care facilities in Kittitas County have response and isolation plans created while working with the IMT.
According to the release, Kittitas County is seeing a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. If the county does not see a change in how the numbers are increasing, it is possible for the county to move backwards in the phases of Gov. Jay Inslee’s phased reopening plan.
To remain in phase three and continue to keep the community safe, wearing masks, social distancing and finding alternatives for meeting face-to-face are recommended by the KCPHD.
As of July 17 Kittitas County has 96 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, with 189 tests pending results. Of the county’s total 285 confirmed cases, 189 are considered recovered. The county reports zero deaths related to COVID-19. All data is pulled from the Kittitas County Community Impact Dashboard.
Justme • Jul 17, 2020 at 8:58 pm
my mom is staying at Prestige Acute Care. I talked to her the day before the first cases here were announced. I could hear a nurse in her room over the phone. I asked my mom if the nurse was wearing a mask and she clearly said “no.” So at that time, July 8, the nurses weren’t wearing masks. Now because of their irresponsibility my mom is positive along with 60 others!