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The City continues to operate its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate our response to the presence of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in our community.
City Hall will delay opening until at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 2, in order to provide City staff with training on social distancing procedures and other precautionary measures. Passport services will be open at 12 p.m. Peter Kirk Community Center, North Kirkland Community Center, and the Kirkland Justice Center will all open at their normal time.
“City staff are working around the clock to coordinate our response, including being in close communication with Public Health – Seattle & King County,” said Mayor Penny Sweet. “Our priority is to protect our community and support our firefighters and police officers during this time.”
The Kirkland Fire and Police Departments remain fully staffed and are responding to calls as normal. City’s first responders have CDC-recommended personal protection equipment and are following recommended protocols.
“I am so grateful for the incredible dedication of our first responders,” said Mayor Penny Sweet. “Their willingness to go the extra mile to serve our community is truly inspiring. We are doing everything we can to ensure that they are supported throughout this process.”
The City has received requests from residents wondering how they can assist in the response. The most important thing people can do right now is heed Public Health - Seattle & King County’s recommendations and take specific actions to reduce the risk to individuals and families, including:
- More hand washing; less face touching. Regular hand washing for at least 20 seconds will decrease risk that the virus is transmitted.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Cover mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others.
- Be prepared at home:
- Have a plan to care for family members should they get sick or schools/offices be closed.
- Know workplace telecommute options and school/daycare policies.
- Stock up on food supplies and prescription medications now to avoid leaving home if you or someone in your household becomes infected.
The City also encourages community members to follow the recommendations provided by the Public Health - Seattle & King County, including:
- Do not go to the emergency room unless essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs. If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular doctor first.
- Stay home when sick.
- Practice excellent personal hygiene habits, including handwashing, coughing into tissue or elbow, avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Stay informed. Information is changing frequently. Check and subscribe to Public Health’s website (www.kingcounty.gov/COVID) or Public Health Insider blog.
The City will continue to update its website with information on the COVID-19 outbreak.
Public Health – Seattle & King County announced on Sunday afternoon four additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 in King County residents, including one death, bringing the total of confirmed cases to ten. King County Executive’s Office will join local and state public health officials on Monday to discuss the latest cases and the King County response to this outbreak.
COVID-19 test results have come back from the Washington State Public Health Laboratory confirming four additional cases of COVID-19 in King County residents. With these four new results, the total number of cases in King County is ten. Today’s results include an additional death, bringing the total number of deaths in King County from COVID-19 to two.
King County Executive’s Office will join local and state public health officials on Monday to discuss the latest cases and the King County response to this outbreak to discuss the latest cases and the King County response to this outbreak.
The four new cases are in:
- A female in her 80s, hospitalized at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland. The woman has underlying health conditions, and is in critical condition
- A female in her 90s, hospitalized at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland. The woman has underlying health conditions, and is in critical condition
- A male in his 70s, hospitalized at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland. The man has underlying health conditions, and is in critical condition
- A male in his 70s was hospitalized at EvergreenHealth. He had underlying health conditions and died on 2/29/20.
All of these newly identified cases are among residents of LifeCare, the skilled nursing facility in Kirkland that was previously identified to have two associated cases.
Six other cases, already reported earlier by Public Health, include:
- A man in his 60s, hospitalized at Valley Medical Center in Renton.
- A man in 60s, hospitalized at Virginia Mason Medical Center.
- A woman in her 50s, who had traveled to South Korea; recovering at home
- A woman in her 70s, who was a resident of LifeCare in Kirkland, hospitalized at EvergreenHealth
- A woman in her 40s, employed by LifeCare, who is hospitalized at Overlake Medical Center
- A man in his 50s, who was hospitalized and died at EvergreenHealth
Public Health is working hard to identify close contacts of these confirmed cases. These close contacts may include family members, co-workers, emergency responders and other contacts. A team of CDC officials is on-the-ground working with Public Health, along with the Washington State Department of Health, our healthcare system partners and many others.
The public can help:
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Do not go to the emergency room unless essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs. If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular doctor first.
- Stay home when sick
- Practice excellent personal hygiene habits, including handwashing, coughing into tissue or elbow, avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Stay away from people who are ill, especially if you are 60 and older or have underlying health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, or a weakened immune system.
- Stay informed. Information is changing frequently. Check and subscribe to Public Health’s website (www.kingcounty.gov/COVID) or blog (www.publichealthinsider.com)
For more information about COVID-19 in King County visit: www.kingcounty.gov/coronavirus
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