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Nursing Home Hit by Coronavirus Says 70 Workers Are Sick Nursing Home Hit by Coronavirus Says 70 Workers Are Sick
(8 days later)
SEATTLE — A week after a deadly coronavirus outbreak was reported inside a nursing home in the Seattle suburbs, officials from the long term care center said on Saturday that 70 staff members were out sick with symptoms resembling coronavirus and six residents were also ill.SEATTLE — A week after a deadly coronavirus outbreak was reported inside a nursing home in the Seattle suburbs, officials from the long term care center said on Saturday that 70 staff members were out sick with symptoms resembling coronavirus and six residents were also ill.
A federal strike team of nurses and doctors arrived Saturday to support the staff at the long-term nursing home, Life Care Center of Kirkland, Wash., where officials have announced the deaths of 13 residents and a visitor who were infected with the virus. Tim Killian, a spokesman for the care center, praised the workers who continued to show up even as 70 of the nursing home’s 180 employees have developed symptoms.A federal strike team of nurses and doctors arrived Saturday to support the staff at the long-term nursing home, Life Care Center of Kirkland, Wash., where officials have announced the deaths of 13 residents and a visitor who were infected with the virus. Tim Killian, a spokesman for the care center, praised the workers who continued to show up even as 70 of the nursing home’s 180 employees have developed symptoms.
“The amount of work and stress that these staff and employees and caregivers are under is tremendous,” Mr. Killian said. “They truly are heroes.”“The amount of work and stress that these staff and employees and caregivers are under is tremendous,” Mr. Killian said. “They truly are heroes.”
Earlier on Saturday, Mr. Killian said that the center was still unable to get all of its staff members tested for coronavirus. The home had received 45 virus testing kits, Mr. Killian said, which was not enough for the 63 remaining residents and dozens of staff members.Earlier on Saturday, Mr. Killian said that the center was still unable to get all of its staff members tested for coronavirus. The home had received 45 virus testing kits, Mr. Killian said, which was not enough for the 63 remaining residents and dozens of staff members.
Later in the day, Life Care managers said the state had provided additional test kits, enough for all of the residents. It was not clear whether there were also enough kits to test staff members.Later in the day, Life Care managers said the state had provided additional test kits, enough for all of the residents. It was not clear whether there were also enough kits to test staff members.
Mr. Killian said that six of the residents who were still living at the center, where visitors have been restricted from entering, had developed symptoms.Mr. Killian said that six of the residents who were still living at the center, where visitors have been restricted from entering, had developed symptoms.
“We cannot make any promises that further exposure in the facility is not happening,” he continued.“We cannot make any promises that further exposure in the facility is not happening,” he continued.
At another nursing home outside Seattle, Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, officials said two residents who had been sent to a hospital on Thursday were confirmed to have the coronavirus.At another nursing home outside Seattle, Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, officials said two residents who had been sent to a hospital on Thursday were confirmed to have the coronavirus.
Another facility, Aegis Living Marymoor in Redmond, also near Seattle, reported that one of its staff members who went home ill at the end of February has now been diagnosed with coronavirus.Another facility, Aegis Living Marymoor in Redmond, also near Seattle, reported that one of its staff members who went home ill at the end of February has now been diagnosed with coronavirus.
A senior living complex in Seattle, Ida Culver House Ravenna, previously said that one of its residents had tested positive on Friday.A senior living complex in Seattle, Ida Culver House Ravenna, previously said that one of its residents had tested positive on Friday.
A number of officials, including Vice President Mike Pence and Dow Constantine, the King County executive, have vowed in recent days to bring in extraordinary government resources to help the hardest-hit nursing home in Kirkland as new illnesses and deaths have been reported. The center has been associated with at least 44 cases of coronavirus and has been the scene of infection for most of the deaths from the virus in the United States.A number of officials, including Vice President Mike Pence and Dow Constantine, the King County executive, have vowed in recent days to bring in extraordinary government resources to help the hardest-hit nursing home in Kirkland as new illnesses and deaths have been reported. The center has been associated with at least 44 cases of coronavirus and has been the scene of infection for most of the deaths from the virus in the United States.
Federal and state guidance on who may be tested for the virus has expanded in recent days, though much uncertainty remains. Washington State health officials have said that there are no restrictions on who can get tested but they also have said that not everyone needs it.Federal and state guidance on who may be tested for the virus has expanded in recent days, though much uncertainty remains. Washington State health officials have said that there are no restrictions on who can get tested but they also have said that not everyone needs it.
The coronavirus outbreak was identified at the Kirkland center a week ago, though testing has since revealed that a patient who went to the hospital earlier was also infected, Mr. Killian said.The coronavirus outbreak was identified at the Kirkland center a week ago, though testing has since revealed that a patient who went to the hospital earlier was also infected, Mr. Killian said.
Updated June 24, 2020
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
“Within our population, we have seen some results that have frankly concerned us with how quickly symptoms have shown, become acute and led to even death,” Mr. Killian said.“Within our population, we have seen some results that have frankly concerned us with how quickly symptoms have shown, become acute and led to even death,” Mr. Killian said.
As the crisis unfolded, Mr. Pence visited Washington State and pledged the federal government’s full resources to help, noting, in particular, that he would work to make sure that the Kirkland nursing home and other care centers for older adults around the country were safe.As the crisis unfolded, Mr. Pence visited Washington State and pledged the federal government’s full resources to help, noting, in particular, that he would work to make sure that the Kirkland nursing home and other care centers for older adults around the country were safe.
Mr. Constantine, the King County executive, has said that the county, too, would provide extensive support, including looking for ways to provide equipment to enable residents to move out of Life Care and into family homes when possible.Mr. Constantine, the King County executive, has said that the county, too, would provide extensive support, including looking for ways to provide equipment to enable residents to move out of Life Care and into family homes when possible.
The Seattle area has been one of the hardest hit in the country, and the test kits have not been the only challenge. Nurses have expressed concern about the availability of protective equipment. Blood banks have been strained.The Seattle area has been one of the hardest hit in the country, and the test kits have not been the only challenge. Nurses have expressed concern about the availability of protective equipment. Blood banks have been strained.
Curt Bailey, who leads the nonprofit Bloodworks Northwest, which supplies blood to 90 hospitals in the region, says the coronavirus outbreak has led to a rare confluence of factors that is keeping donors away: Many businesses have told employees to work from home and have canceled blood drives; older peoples, who are among the most frequent blood donors, are particularly at risk from coronavirus and have been staying home; and some people are avoiding any group assembly point.Curt Bailey, who leads the nonprofit Bloodworks Northwest, which supplies blood to 90 hospitals in the region, says the coronavirus outbreak has led to a rare confluence of factors that is keeping donors away: Many businesses have told employees to work from home and have canceled blood drives; older peoples, who are among the most frequent blood donors, are particularly at risk from coronavirus and have been staying home; and some people are avoiding any group assembly point.
Mr. Bailey said he has been encouraging people to visit donation centers in order to avert the possibility of a blood shortage.Mr. Bailey said he has been encouraging people to visit donation centers in order to avert the possibility of a blood shortage.
“It has the potential to become extremely dangerous,” he said.“It has the potential to become extremely dangerous,” he said.