The ability to test a higher number of individuals for COVID-19 is showing that the coronavirus is spreading rapidly throughout Washington, including in King County and Kirkland.
In addition to the Life Care Center of Kirkland, where the coronavirus outbreak started, two other senior living/care facilities in Kirkland have discovered positive cases of COVID-19 in either staff members or residents: The Gardens at Juanita Bay and Madison House Independent and Assisted Living Community.
Public Health — Seattle & King County is supporting these facilities to test and optimize care for residents and to prevent further transmission of the virus, according to a press release from Public Health.
According to public information liaison Tim Killian, the Life Care Center, all residents inside the facility have been tested for a coronavirus infection. Residents who tested negative are in the process of being moved to a different wing of the facility. All employees are in the process of testing. To Killian’s knowledge, the majority of employee testing will be carried out by the University of Washington.
Madison House Independent and Assisted Living Community has confirmed one positive case of COVID-19. The Madison House facility is owned by Koelsch Communities. According to its website, a letter to residents and families stated that on March 9, they were notified that a former Life Care resident, who briefly lived at Madison House from Feb. 27 to March 3, tested positive for COVID-19 while at the hospital for unrelated health concerns. This resident was at no point re-admitted to Madison House after testing positive and remains at the hospital.
Koelsch Communities director of marketing and communications Eric Hanson said the facility is continuing to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and the guidelines that were enacted by Gov. Jay Inslee.
As of March 9, the Madison House facility has been under quarantine.
The Reporter reached out to The Gardens at Juanita Bay and received no immediate response.
Anyone who believes they have symptoms of COVID-19 but have not been in contact with a confirmed case is asked to call their health care provider and inform them about their symptoms. Residents are asked to follow their provider’s advice about whether to go to their doctor to get tested or to remain at home.
Anyone in King County who believes they were exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 or health care providers with questions about COVID-19 can contact the King County Novel Coronavirus Call Center at 206-477-3977.
For general concerns and questions about COVID-19, call the Washington State Novel Coronavirus Call Center at 800-525-0127.
