Samaritan Hospital lifts quarantine
CHARLES H. FEATHERSTONE | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 10 months AGO
MOSES LAKE — A Samaritan Hospital patient has tested negative for the COVID-19 virus, and the quarantine has been lifted for all those believed to have been exposed, according to a press release from Grant County Health District.
The district also said that a Grant County resident who is being treated for COVID-19 symptoms at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee is presumed to have the coronavirus but doctors and health care workers are still waiting for confirmation from the Washington State Public Health Lab.
The patient is a Quincy resident in their 80s, has not traveled outside the country, and was the first reported COVID-19 case east of the Cascades, the health district said.
“The patient is isolated in critical condition,” said Amber McCoy, an environmental health specialist for GCHD. “Those who had close contact with the patient have been asked to quarantine.”
“The investigation for the source continues,” McCoy added.
“We are extremely relieved to learn the patient tested negative for COVID-19,” said Samaritan Chief Medical Officer Andrea Carter. “We support and appreciate the ongoing efforts of our physicians and staff who are prepared and have worked diligently to manage care for this infectious disease, while also exhibiting compassion for those affected.”
According to McCoy, the patient in Wenatchee and the patient in Moses Lake are the two Grant County cases reported earlier this week.
“Currently, there are no new patients from Grant County under official investigation of COVID-19, but we expect that to change as this global situation continues to evolve,” McCoy said.
As of Thursday at noon, there were 70 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington state and 10 confirmed deaths, with 231 people “under public health supervision,” according to the Washington State Department of Health. Later in the day, the number of deaths rose to 11.
According to the county health district, the state lab has a limited testing capacity and is “prioritizing the tests for people with underlying health conditions or serious illness.”
The GCHD is still advising people to call first before going to the doctor, urgent care or emergency rooms, stay at home if they are sick, wash their hands regularly, avoid touching their faces and stay away from people who are ill in order to limit the spread of the disease.
“The University of Washington has also recently started testing, and additional testing options may become available in the future, but, for now, if you have mild symptoms — cough, fever — you need to stay home, stay away from people,” McCoy said. “A test, whether it’s positive or negative, won’t change that advice or treatment plan.”
Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com,
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