Tri-City groups consider canceling events, as Wildhorse casino reopens

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Wildhorse Resort and Casino reopened at about noon Wednesday, 48 hours after it closed for deep cleaning after an employee tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The reopening came as Tri-City-area groups continued to consider whether to cancel events to protect participants from infection and some elder-care homes were restricting visitors.

The infection of the casino employee is just the third known case in Oregon of COVID-19.

The state of Washington has 10 deaths attributed to novel coronavirus and 39 confirmed cases, all in King and Snohomish counties. A total of 231 people are being monitored by public health workers because of their risk of having been exposed to the virus.

At the resort near Pendleton, the casino, movie theater, hotel, conference center, restaurants and children’s entertainment center all received a deep cleaning before the public was allowed to return.

The reopening was allowed after officials with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, which owns the casino, inspected the resort and issued a letter of certification.

On Monday, within three hours of notification that an employee had an apparent case of COVID-19, all guests and employees had left the buildings and deep cleaning and sanitation crews started work at all locations, Wildhorse said.

The casino already had been swabbing surfaces the public was likely to touch with increased frequency, because of the spread of the virus in the Northwest.

The employee who tested positive for the COVID-19 is a swing shift worker in an area of the casino closed to the public and had no reason to interact with the public, the casino said. The employee was not a food service worker.

Other Wildhorse employees fall into a category the Centers for Disease Control consider at low risk for transmission exposure, Wildhorse said.

The employee, who was being treated at a Walla Walla hospital over the weekend, is recovering, Umatilla County Public Health said.

Three close contacts of the employee also were being tested for coronavirus, with samples sent to a Washington state laboratory, it said.

Badger Club cancels

In the Tri-Cities, the Columbia Basin Badger Club on Wednesday canceled its March 12 health care forum in the Tri-Cities out of concern for the safety of its members and guests after consulting with the local public health officer.

Speakers had been invited to discuss whether government should guarantee basic health care to all citizens.

Those who have already paid for a reservation may receive a refund or a credit for the next Badger Club forum.

Junior Achievement has two more nights — Thursday and Friday — of its premier fundraiser, the JA Bowling Classic with a theme this year of Hollywood at the Lanes, at Atomic Bowl in Richland

The organization decided to move ahead with the event but sent an email to participants saying it understands if some people are not comfortable participating.

Bowlers who have been fundraising can turn in their money and still receive prizes, said Tamra Meyer, director for the Southeastern Region.

The organization is leaving it up to individuals to use their own judgment, but will “throw a fun night for people who do want to come out,” she said.

On Wednesday, King County, the center of the outbreak in Washington state, issued new recommendations to its residents to reduce their risk of exposure to COVID-19.

People at higher risk of illnesses should stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible, it said. The recommendation included people 60 and older, pregnant women and those with health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes or with weakened immune systems.

Organizations should consider postponing events and gatherings that bring together large groups of people, it said.

Limiting visitors

Some retirement, assisted living and dementia care centers in the Tri-Cities are limiting visitors to health care providers to protect their residents from infection.

The majority of deaths in Washington state have been at a nursing home in Kirkland, a suburb of Seattle.

Those owned by JEA Senior Living were asking family members to Skype or phone residents, said Robert Ogilvie, administrator of Royal Columbian Retirement Inn in Kennewick, which has independent living apartments and assisted living care.

But they were making some exceptions, including for a daughter who asked to take her mother for a drive on Tuesday. Employees brought the resident out to meet the daughter.

Many residents’ families have supported the visitation restrictions, knowing it will help protect the health of residents, Ogilvie said.

Ogilvie had a meeting with residents Tuesday afternoon to go over what they could each do to protect themselves, such as thorough and frequent handwashing.

“Our whole focus is prevention,” he said.

Other JEA Senior Living facilities in the Tri-Cities are Callaway Gardens Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in Kennewick and Tri-Cities Retirement Inn in Pasco.

In Grant County two different healthcare facilities had a single patient each who was being tested for COVID-19.

The cases did not appear to be related, according to the Grant County Health Department.

The healthcare workers involved in the care of one of the patients have been put into quarantine as a precaution. They are being told to stay home and have no contact with people outside their immediate families for 14 days while they are monitored for symptoms.

Where to call

As basic supplies, like hand sanitizer, sell out at Tri-City area stores and elsewhere in the state, the Washington state attorney general is investigating price gouging.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson is asking people who see price gouging to file a complaint at atg.wa.gov/file-complaint.

Ben Franklin Transit is cleaning its vehicles daily with a hospital-grade disinfectant to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, it said.

Hand sanitizer dispensers, already on Dial-A-Ride vehicles, will be installed on all buses.

Riders should avoid contact with people who appear to be sick.

“We know it can be difficult on the bus, but remember it’s not rude to get up and move if you need to,” Ben Franklin Transit posted on its website.

Coronavirus, known as COVID-19, is spread through contact between people within six feet of each other, especially through coughing and sneezing that expels respiratory droplets that land in the mouths or noses of people nearby.

The CDC says it’s possible to catch COVID-19 by touching something that has the virus on it, and then touching your own face, “but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”

Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath, which may occur two days to two weeks after exposure. The disease is especially dangerous for the elderly and others with weaker immune systems.

So far, more than 94,000 cases have been reported worldwide, with about 3,200 deaths, the vast majority of them in China.

The Washington State Department of Health has established a call center to address questions from the public.

If you have questions about what is happening in Washington State, how the virus is spread, and what to do if you have symptoms, please call 1-800-525-0127 and press #.

This story was originally published March 4, 2020 at 2:45 PM.