Kadlec restricting visitors. More cancellations. And coronavirus advice for employers, students
Kadlec Regional Medical Center is limiting hospital patient visitors and those who accompany patients to its clinics both because of the spread of the novel coronavirus and the prevalence of influenza in the Tri-Cities.
There were no known cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus, in the Tri-Cities as of Wednesday afternoon, but health officials suspect the virus is circulating in the community.
In Washington state the coronavirus death toll rose to 29 on Wednesday, up from 24 on Tuesday. The number of cases increased from 267 to 366. Nearly two-thirds of the cases and all but three of the deaths were in King County.
A second likely case of COVID-19 has been identified in Umatilla County, Ore., just south of Benton County. The first case was a Wildhorse Casino and Resort employee, which was reported March 3. The employee is out of the hospital and recovering.
In the Tri-Cities, more events have been canceled, libraries are taking precautions and employers are being asked to make telecommuting arrangements, if possible, for employees most at risk from the virus.
The Richland hospital is asking that patients have just one visitor at a time and has closed one of its public entrances.
Patients coming into the hospital’s emergency room or any of its other clinics and centers bring just one person with them.
That includes the main hospital, the freestanding emergency department in Kennewick, the Kadlec Healthplex, the Kadlec Outpatient Imaging Center, Tri-Cities Regional Surgery Center and its urgent care, express care and other clinics.
Limiting visitors is intended to prevent the spread of illness at hospital facilities and to help prevent exposure of visitors. It also preserves the supply of masks, since some visitors are required to wear masks.
“While hospital visitation or accompanying a patient for a medical appointment by family, friends and designated care partners is valuable, there are times when limitations must be placed on incoming visitors to reduce the potential spread of disease,” Kadlec said in a statement. “This is one of those times.”
Kadlec also is asking that anyone who has had a cough and fever within the past 48 hours not to enter a Kadlec facility unless they are seeking medical care.
“If you are not seeking emergency care, and you intend to come to one of our facilities for care with these symptoms, please call ahead to the location you will visit prior to going,” Kadlec said.
The hospital has closed its Orchard Pavilion entrance near the corner of Swift Boulevard and Stevens Drive. All patients and visitors must come through the main Vineyard Pavilion entrance, which is to the west of the Corrado Medical Building and the parking garage.
The exception is for patients seeking emergency care, who can go directly to the emergency department which has its own outside entrance.
People concerned they may have COVID-19 can take Kadlec’s online health assessment at bit.ly/COVIDassess. Symptoms include coughing and fever.
Trios Health in Kennewick and Lourdes Health in Pasco had not announced any new visitor restrictions by mid-afternoon Wednesday.
Event cancellations
On Wednesday, Gov. Jay Inslee banned gatherings of 250 people or more in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties in Western Washington where the outbreak of coronavirus in the state began.
The ban does not apply to the Tri-Cities, but events continue to be canceled there and throughout the Mid-Columbia.
The ban on large events covers King, Snohomish and Pierce counties in Western Washington where the outbreak of coronavirus in the state began.
In the Tri-Cities, Cavalcade of Authors has been canceled, including its school and library events.
Cavalcade of Authors posted that some authors have canceled because of the the spread of the virus and others are reluctant to travel to Washington state.
A reading and writing workshop was planned for students in the region at Enterprise Middle School in Richland March 21, with 14 authors from across the nation booked to give workshops and talks.
Refunds and vouchers will be offered for those who have paid for registration, T-shirts or extra author visits.
The Mid-Columbia Libraries canceled plans to have Cavalcade author talks and book signings at its West Richland, Pasco and Kennewick branches March 18-19.
The Crystal Apple Awards for Excellence in Education planned March 12 in Pasco also has been canceled out of concern for the community’s health. The event, which honors Tri-Cities-area teachers and other education advocates, will be rescheduled.
The March 27 ribbon cutting for the second phase of the Columbia Gardens Wine and Artisan Village on east Columbia Drive in Kennewick was postponed on Wednesday, with a new date yet to be announced.
“We didn’t want to bring a large group of people together unnecessarily, as we are mindful of the federal and state health messages about social distancing,” said Tim Arntzen, Port of Kennewick chief executive.
The Columbia Gardens’ wineries and food truck businesses will continue to operate as usual.
School update
Seattle Public Schools has closed for two weeks, but no schools are closing at this time in the Tri-Cities area.
Kennewick School District said Wednesday morning that it is not postponing or canceling any school events or activities.
The Benton Franklin Health District is recommending that students who have fever, cough or shortness of breath wait 72 hours after fever and symptoms are gone to return to school.
Washington State University is the latest university in the state to cancel in-person classes. It will move to online classes following spring break. Read more here.
Mid-Columbia Libraries
MId-Columbia Libraries is recommending that visitors wash or sanitize their hands before using public computers and check-out kiosks.
Hand sanitizer is available for use after touching surfaces, such as door knobs and public computer keyboards.
The staff is regularly cleaning customer service desk counter tops, self-check out machines, computer keyboards and mice, and printers.
However, people at higher risk of COVID-19 may prefer to access the libraries’ extensive collection of downloadable books, audiobooks and magazines and streaming video at midcolumbialibraries.org.
The library also has curbside pickup for books on hold in West Richland, Prosser, Merrill’s Corner, Kahlotus, Benton City and Basin City. Many branches, including both Pasco branches, have drive-up returns and the Pasco branch at 7525 Wrigley Drive has a drive-through window.
Employer recommendations
The Benton Franklin Health District is encouraging workplaces and businesses to provide options for their higher risk employees to work from home, if possible.
People at higher risk from COVID-19 are those over 60, pregnant women and people with an underlying medical condition, such as heart or lung disease, diabetes or weakened immune systems.
If employees at higher risk from the disease cannot work from home, employers should minimize their interaction with large groups of people, the health district said.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, with 4,700 employees, is telling staff to work from home, if possible.
Workers have been told to have virtual meetings using computers or mobile phones. If meetings must be held in person, the number of participants should be limited and workers should try to maintain their distance from each other.
Coronavirus is spread through droplets that can spread about six feet through coughing, sneezing, talking and singing. The droplets can land on people or the surfaces they touch, spreading the infection.
PNNL also is telling employees to postpone or cancel all non-essential domestic travel or lab meetings that others would travel to the lab to attend. The Department of Energy has already suspended nearly all international travel at PNNL and its other sites.
The Hanford nuclear reservation, which employs about 9,400 workers and some additional subcontract workers, said it is encouraging workers who are sick to stay home and will notify workers if an employee tests positive for the novel coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 10:57 AM.