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Health officials are calling on people to do all they can to stop the spread of COVID-19 after a new coronavirus outbreak was reported at a long-term care center in Yakima.
The Summitview Health Care Center in Yakima has reported 50 cases of COVID-19, including 27 staff and 23 residents, according to a press release from the Yakima Health District. Four deaths are linked to the epidemic.
The health district disease investigation team visited the center on Tuesday. The cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but have not yet been included in the Yakima Health District totals. The health district said it will note when the numbers are included in the daily totals on its website.
The health district reported 71 new cases on Thursday, not counting the health center epidemic figures.
Health worker Dr Teresa Everson said most, if not all, of COVID-19 cases in long-term facilities were the result of community transmission. It is time to stop an increase in cases in the Yakima region so that it does not reach the most vulnerable members of the community, she said.
“We know from our past success that if we follow all of the recommendations, we will see a drop in COVID-19 activity,” she said in a statement.
The county has had an average of 75 cases per day for the past seven days. That number doubled from the average daily counts in October.
Twenty-three people were hospitalized Thursday, including two intubated. The health district said it expects hospitalizations to continue to rise in the coming weeks as the number of cases increases.
District health executive director Andre Fresco said people should eliminate unnecessary contact with non-household members, wear masks, wash their hands frequently and disinfect surfaces. People should be tested as soon as they show symptoms of COVID-19 or believe they have been exposed, he said.
“This is not a single intervention that will allow Yakima to once again beat this increase in COVID-19 cases. This will be accomplished by every member of the community who will do their part to protect our county, every day, ”he said.
Yakima County has recorded 13,988 cases of COVID-19 and 255 deaths since March. A total of 12,424 people have recovered.
The county recorded 162 cases per 100,000 residents from October 26 to November 8. The state’s goal is less than 25 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over two weeks.
Statewide, 1,987 new cases and 11 deaths have been confirmed, according to the State Department of Health. Data is at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.
Governor Jay Inslee announced new restrictions on Sunday in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID in Washington. Gyms and indoor service to restaurants and bars closed this week. Indoor gatherings with people outside your household are not allowed unless participants have properly self-quarantined.
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