No known coronavirus cases in Tri-Cities, but likely only a matter of time

No one in Benton and Franklin counties has tested positive for the coronavirus and no one is under investigation, the Benton Franklin Health District reported on Saturday.

But the Tri-Cities area likely will see cases eventually as the virus spreads to many people in the United States, said Dr. Amy Person, health officer for the district.

The Washington state Department of Health announced Saturday that a person in King County had died after contracting the new coronavirus, COVID-19. It is believed to be the first such death in the United States.

The man who died was in his 50s and had underlying health conditions. He had no history of travel or contact with a known COVID-19 case.

Six cases had been confirmed in the state as of noon Saturday, including a resident and an employee of a Kirkland long-term care facility. About 50 residents and employees of the home had symptoms.

Gov. Inslee declared an emergency in the state.

Because a student at a western Washington high school is one of several new cases, the Kamiakin High School basketball team’s tournament game and others planned at the Everett-area school on Saturday were moved to a Seattle-area school.

But the Yakima County Health District announced Saturday that it was investigating a possible case of COVID-19.

The person has symptoms and a recent travel history consistent with the coronavirus, but laboratory test results are not expected for three to five days.

Also in Eastern Washington, two people treated for COVID-19 at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane were discharged, the state Department of Health said Saturday.

Prepare for coronavirus

Despite the death in King County, most people who contract coronavirus don’t get very sick with it, Person said.

“It’s not a supervirus,” she said. “The vast majority of people who develop COVID-19 will be fine.”

The challenge is that it is easy to spread since most people don’t fall seriously ill, and it is a new infection and most people have built up no immunity to it, she said.

The same steps that the health district recommends to avoid influenza and other viruses will help protect people against the new coronavirus, she said.

Most important is for people to stay home if they are sick with symptoms such as a fever, cough or sore throat so they don’t expose others and spread the virus, she said.

Washing hands also is effective at removing coronavirus, just as any other virus.

But to provide good protection, people need to wash their hands for 20 seconds thoroughly, including fronts, backs and in between fingers, she said.

The health district also reminds people to have supplies on hand for at least 72 hours, including food and prescription medicine, in case they may not be able to get out of the house. It’s the same advice it gives for bad weather and disasters.

If the virus spreads

If the health district does start to see coronavirus spreading in the Tri-Cities area, it could recommend additional precautions, Person said.

That might include telling people to stay clear of large gatherings or advising schools to close. But those precautions are not needed yet, she said.

Person is concerned about the “worried well” putting stress on the area’s health care system.

There may be a temptation now for people to see a doctor if they have mild symptoms, Person said. Mild symptoms can be handled at home with ibuprofen and plenty of liquids.

The community has the resources to take care of those who are truly sick and to hospitalize those with the coronavirus, if resources are not overwhelmed by those with mild symptoms, she said.

The district has been providing information to healthcare providers on what to watch for and also continues to work with hospitals on how to prepare for an infectious outbreak, just as it has in the past to be prepared for illnesses such as swine flu and ebola.

Those at highest risk

Because COVID-19 is new, health officials don’t know yet specifics about the course of the disease or how long people are contagious.

But they do know it acts similar to other viruses and can use that knowledge to fight it, Person said.

Those most at risk of serious illness from the virus appear to be the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions. But unlike some other viruses, children do not appear to be as seriously affected, she said.

Other agencies in the Tri-Cities also are taking precautions.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, which has about 200 Chinese nationals on its staff of 2,700 people, has restricted business-related travel to China, the center of the outbreak.

Anyone at the lab who has recently vacationed in China has been asked to talk with PNNL’s occupational health office, the lab said.

Tri-Cities schools

Tri-City-area schools have been working closely with the local health district.

The Richland, Kennewick and Pasco custodial and maintenance staff are using best practices in cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing schools, the school districts posted on their websites. They also are reviewing their emergency plans, should they be needed.

Kamiakin High boys were scheduled to play in the tournament regional round basketball games at Jackson High School in Mill Creek, where the school has been closed to be sanitized after a student there tested positive for coronavirus.

The tournament has been moved to Shorewood High a few miles south of Mill Creek and Kamiakin was expected to play Marysville-Pilchuck at 2 p.m. Saturday there.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association said it is in communication with the Washington state Department of Health for guidance to ensure the safety of all involved in WIAA state events.

The Jackson High case was one of two new coronavirus cases identified in Washington and made public by the Department of Health on Friday.

The health department does not know how the student contracted the disease.

This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 2:42 PM.