Health crisis worsens in county

DAVENPORT – According to the Lincoln County Health Department, the average number of Covid-19 cases in Washington state has doubled over the past two weeks, with the numbers in Lincoln County following the trend. As of November 17, Lincoln County had 39 new cases within 14 days, which put the case rate at 365 cases per 100,000 people. There have been 123 confirmed positive cases in the county and two deaths. Recent outbreaks have occurred in the county associated with Vista Manor, an assisted living facility in Davenport, as well as with Odessa Memorial Hospital’s swing bed unit.

Neighboring Grant County also reports an outbreak in one long-term care facility, McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Soap Lake, with over 30 cases reported in residents and staff. At this point in time all COVID-19 residents have been moved out of the facility. Unfortunately, one resident has recently died due to COVID-19 complications. McKay had remained COVID-19 free since the on-set of the pandemic. A state Dept. of Health medical surge strike team specializing in COVID-19 conducted a site visit and made recommendations to help McKay staff prepare for residents to return.

The Grant County Health District is also asking more than 300 attendees of a wedding held at a private location near Ritzville on November 7 to get tested for COVID-19 after several have now tested positive for COVID-19. Anyone who attended the wedding is being asked to self-quarantine through Saturday, November 21.

Since this event affects people from multiple jurisdictions, the Health District felt it necessary to notify the public about possible exposure. To date, 17 Grant County cases are associated with the event, with more being added daily. Attendees diagnosed with COVID-19 have also been linked to two subsequent outbreaks.

Wedding ceremonies are limited to a total of no more than 30 people and indoor receptions or similar gatherings in conjunction with the ceremony are prohibited. Wedding organizers are strongly encouraged to keep a log of attendees at each service and to retain that log for at least two weeks. If an outbreak occurs, this information may be critical to help save lives.

The increases in COVID cases has led to a four-week statewide set of restrictions announced by Governor Jay Inslee earlier this week. The Governor’s orders include restrictions on dining-in, retail customer capacity and gatherings.

For more information, visit the Lincoln County Health Department’s website at http://www.co.lincoln.wa.us/public-health/COVID or Grant County’s at http://www.granthealth.org.