MOSES LAKE - A third Samaritan Healthcare employee has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the organization said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.

The employee has shown no symptoms of the disease, said Gretchen Youngren, Executive Director of Development and Communication at Samaritan, in a statement. The employee is isolating at home.

Youngren said the organization believes the employe contracted the virus through community exposure, and had been tested as a precaution after the Grant County Health District discovered they had come into contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

The employee had not been to work since being contacted by the health district, Samaritan said in a statement. At this time, Samaritan officials believe there is no identifiable patient risk, the organization said in a statement.

Two other Samaritan Healthcare employees had previously tested positive in late March and have since recovered enough to be cleared to return to work.

“Our continued thoughts and prayers for strength and healing are with our employee and their

family at this time,” stated Samaritan CEO, Theresa Sullivan. “While we know this war against

COVID-19 is far from over, we are seeing encouraging news in the recovery of our employees

who have been infected.”

The two previously diagnosed employees work on a separate campus than the newest employee, Samaritan said in its statement.

“All of us, together, have the ability to win this war against COVID-19, but we need everyone’s

help. Stay home. Stop the spread. Save lives. This is something we all must do,” said Chief

Medical Officer Dr. Andrea Carter in a statement.