GOVERNMENT CAN HELP. >>> THE FOUNDERS GAVE TO GO ON
AS SCHEDULED, BUT WILL THE
CROWD STAY
>>>
>>> IT
>>> IT HAS BEEN SEVEN DAYS SINCE THE FIRST DEATH FROM
CORONAVIRUS.
CORONAVIRUS. TONIGHT, THAT NUMBER IS RISING.
GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING. I'M CHRISTIN AYERS.
WE BEGIN WITH THE FACT THAT WE
KNOW.
KNOW.
KNOW. 16
KNOW. 16 PEOPLE HAVE DIED, 87 OTHERS
HAVE TESTED POSITIVE.
MANY OF THOSE THAT ARE BASED IN
KING AND SNOHOMISH COUNTIES,
BUT TONIGHT WE CAN CONFIRM
CLARK, KITTITAS, PIERCE,
JEFFERSON, AND GRANT COUNTIES
HAVE ALL REPORTED AT LEAST ONE
POSITIVE CASE.
POSITIVE CASE. SOME MAJOR AREA UNIVERSITIES
AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE BEGUN
ONLINE CLASSES, INCLUDING
SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY AND
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
MORE THAN A DOZEN OF THOSE
DEATHS HAPPENED AT THE LIFE
CARE CENTER IN KIRKLAND,
CONSIDERED THE GROUND ZERO OF
THE OUTBREAK IN OUR STATE.
KING 5'S SEBASTIAN ROBERTSON IS
AT THE FACILITY NOW OR FEDERAL
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ARE SET
TO ARRIVE ANY MINUTE NOW,
SEBASTIAN?
SEBASTIAN? >> Reporter: A SPOKESPERSON FOR
THE FACILITY SAYS THEY ARE
STILL VERY MUCH IN PRE-AJMER
TRYING TO CARE FOR THE PATIENTS
THAT ARE HERE WITHOUT MAKING
THE SITUATION ANY WORSE, AND
TODAY THAT SAME SPOKESPERSON
GAVE US NEW NUMBERS THAT REALLY
SHOWED THE SCOPE OF THIS
PROBLEM.
PROBLEM.
PROBLEM. WE DON'T KNOW WHY THIS PATIENT
WAS LOADED IN AN AMBULANCE
OUTSIDE LIFE CARE CENTER IN
KIRKLAND SATURDAY MORNING.
WE DO KNOW THAT THE PATIENTS
AND THE MEDICAL STAFF ARE AT
THE EPICENTER OF THE
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK IN THE
U.S.
U.S.
U.S. >>
U.S. >> EVERYTHING WE LEARNED SO FAR
IS THAT WE KNOW VERY LITTLE
ABOUT HOW FAST THIS MAY HAPPEN.
REP ABOUT THE CARE FACILITY
RELEASING ITS OWN NUMBERS,
DOCUMENTING THE TOLL THE VIRUS
HAS TAKEN ON 10.
SINCE FEBRUARY 19, 13 PATIENTS
HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR AND
DIED OF THE CORONAVIRUS.
>> Reporter: KNOW WHEN AND THE
STAFF HAS DIED, BUT OF THE 180
EMPLOYEES, 70 AREN'T WORKING
AND ARE SHOWING SYMPTOMS.
>> I REALLY THINK THIS IS
SOMETHING FALLING THROUGH THE
CRACKS.
CRACKS.
CRACKS. >> Reporter: SHERRY CHANDLER
FEARS THE IMPACT IS TOO GREAT,
ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO COME TO
THE FACILITY LIKE THIS.
VISITORS, LIKE HER ELDERLY
PARENTS.
PARENTS.
PARENTS. >> NOBODY HAS EVEN REACHED OUT
TO MY PARENTS.
THERE ARE MANY VISITORS TO THE
CENTER THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
CONTACTED.
CONTACTED. THIS IS SOMETHING FALLING
THROUGH THE CRACKS.
>> Reporter: THE TRUE TOLD MAY
TAKE SOME TIME TO COME BY.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER
THAT THIS FACILITY, BY ITS OWN
COUNT, HAS ONLY RECEIVED 45
TEST KITS AND JUST RECEIVED
THEM THURSDAY.
THEM THURSDAY. >> WE NEED MORE TEST KITS. WE
STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TEST
KITS FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS WHO
ARE HERE.
ARE HERE.
ARE HERE. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT MORE WILL
BE COMING.
BE COMING. >> Reporter: SATURDAY, LIFE
CARE CENTER DID GET SOME
RELIEF.
RELIEF.
RELIEF. AND NUMBER OF DOCTORS AND NURSE
PRACTITIONERS ARRIVED TO TREAT
THE 63 PATIENTS THAT REMAIN.
A FIGHT AGAINST A VIRUS THAT IS
FAR FROM OVER.
THE FACILITY BELIEVES THAT
THERE ARE SIX PEOPLE INSIDE
CURRENTLY SHOWING SYMPTOMS FOR
THE CORONAVIRUS.
THE CORONAVIRUS. THOSE PATIENTS ARE RECEIVING
REGULAR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND
BEING MONITORED SHOULD THEIR
SYMPTOMS TURN ACUTE, THEN THEY
WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO A
HOSPITAL.
HOSPITAL.
HOSPITAL. IN KIRKLAND, SEBASTIAN
ROBERTSON, KING 5 NEWS.
>> TELL US ABOUT THE STEP THAT
HAS BEEN WORKING?
WELL, WE'RE WONDERING IF
THEY'VE BEEN QUARANTINED.
>> Reporter: YEAH, THE STAFF
MEMBERS THAT ARE IN HERE ARE
WORKING LONG DAYS, AND WORKING
SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW, BUT THEY
ARE NOT UNDER ANY TYPE OF
RESTRICTION.
RESTRICTION. THEY CAN GO HOME, AND THE STAFF
HERE SAYS THEY ARE REALLY BEING
VIGILANT ABOUT THE PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, DOING A
GOOD JOB TAKING IT OFF, PUTTING
IT ON, SANITIZING, ALL STEPS TO
ENSURE THE SITUATION DOES NOT
GET WORSE.
GET WORSE. BACK TO YOU.
>> WE HOPE THAT IS ENOUGH TO
KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
>>> A JUDGE HAS DENIED THE CITY
OF KENT'S REQUEST TO USE A
VACANT HOTEL AS A QUARANTINE
FACILITY.
FACILITY.
FACILITY. THAT RULING CLEARS THE WAY FOR
10 POTENTIALLY INFECTED
FIREFIGHTERS TO MOVE INTO
OLD
OLD ECONO
OLD ECONO LODGE ON CENTRAL AVENUE.
AVENUE.
AVENUE. THE FIREFIGHTERS HAD RESPONDED
TO THE LIFE CARE CENTER.
THE MAYOR OF KENT SAID THE
COUNTY GAVE THEM LITTLE NOTICE.
>> I NEED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK MY
CITIZENS IN THE EYE AND SAY WE
ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE, AND I
HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET
SATISFACTORY ANSWERS TO THOSE
QUESTIONS TO BE ABLE TO DO
THAT.
THAT.
THAT. >>
THAT. >> ANOTHER COURT HEARING WILL
BE SET BEFORE WEDNESDAY TO
REVIEW THE MATTER.
>>> DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT THE
CORONAVIRUS, THE ISSAQUAH FOOD
AND CLOTHING BANK WILL BE
CLOSED THIS COMING WEEK.
PEOPLE WANT BE ABLE TO DONATE
OR SHOP FROM MONDAY, MARCH 9
TWO FRIDAY, MARCH 14 AT THE
FOOD BANK SAYS IT'S TAKING
PREEMPTIVE MEASURES TO REDUCE
THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO THAT
VIRUS.
VIRUS.
VIRUS. SOME OF THE PATIENTS INFECTED
HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO
EVERGREENHEALTHIN KIRKLAND AND
SEVERAL HAVE DIED THERE.
TODAY, THE HOSPITAL HELD A TOUR
FOR A U.S. LAWMAKER AND GAVE AN
UPDATE ON WHAT THE HOSPITAL IS
DOING.
DOING.
DOING. KING 5'S AMY MORENO LIVE THERE
TONIGHT.
TONIGHT.
TONIGHT. AMY?
AMY?
AMY? >>
AMY? >> Reporter: THERE IS MONEY
COMING FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT PUBLIC
HEALTH AGENCIES AND THE WORK
HERE AT EVERGREENHEALTH, AND
LAWMAKER SUSAN SAID SHE NEEDED
TO COME HERE AND TALK TO THEM
FACE-TO-FACE TO SEE ON THE
FRONT LINES WHAT THEY ARE DOING
TO FIGHT THE VIRUS.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM
OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WHAT
THEY NEED.
THEY NEED. >> Reporter: CONGRESSWOMAN
SUZAN DELBENE SPENT TIME IN
EVERGREENHEALTH, WHERE PATIENTS
OF THE LIFE CARE CENTER HAVE
BEEN TRANSFERRED AS THEY FIGHT
THE VISIT.
THE VISIT. HER VISIT COMES ONE DAY AFTER
CONGRESS APPROVED MORE FUNDING
TO FIGHT THE VIRUS , AND
PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED GOVERNOR
JAY INSLEE A SNAKE, RAISING
CONCERNS ON HOW WELL THE STATE
AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE
WORKING TOGETHER TO RESPOND.
>> I WANT TO SAY THOSE COMMENTS
WERE APPALLING.
WERE APPALLING. I WAS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE
VICE PRESIDENT AT THE GATHERING
WE HAD ON THURSDAY.
I WAS WITH THE GOVERNOR AGAIN
,
, AND
, AND I
, AND I KNOW HIS TOP PRIORITY IS THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE OF
WASHINGTON STATE, AND THE
PRESIDENT COULD LEARN A LOT BY
FOLLOWING THE GOVERNOR'S LEE.
>> Reporter: EVERGREEN POSTED
INFORMATION ON ITS WEBSITE,
CALLING THE VIRUS ENDEMIC,
WHICH MEANS IT NOW REGULARLY
FOUND IN OUR REGION AND AMONGST
OUR POPULATION.
OUR POPULATION. THE LANGUAGE CAUSED SOME
CONCERN AND WAS TAKEN DOWN FROM
THE SITE.
THE SITE.
THE SITE. DOCTORS SAID THE TERM IS
DESIGNATED BY PUBLIC HEALTH AND
THE CDC.
THE CDC.
THE CDC. >> I REALLY DIFFER TO OUR
EXPERTS ON ALL THOSE
DEFINITIONS ON WHAT WE CALL
ENDEMIC, BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS
WITH COMMUNITY SPREAD,
EVERGREENHEALTHIS READY TO TAKE
CARE OF THAT COMMUNITY TO
PRESENT ITSELF HERE.
>> Reporter: THE HOSPITAL SAID
IT'S FOCUSED ON TAKING CARE OF
THOSE PATIENTS AND SUPPORTING
THE STAFF, WHO CONTINUE TO SHOW
UP FOR WORK DURING THIS VERY
STRESSFUL TIME.
STRESSFUL TIME. >> HUMBLING.
>> HUMBLING. HUMBLING TO WATCH THESE, THESE
STAFF MEMBERS COME TO WORK
EVERY DAY AS THEY DID BEFORE
ALL THIS TO TAKE THE BEST CARE
OF THEIR PATIENTS AND CONTINUE
TO DO SO AND NOT SHY AWAY FROM
IT.
IT.
IT. >>
IT. >> Reporter: BECAUSE THE VIRUS
IS SO WIDESPREAD, THAT
POTENTIALLY PEOPLE, THE
HOSPITAL MIGHT NO LONGER BE
CHECKING PEOPLE FOR THE VIRUS,
BUT EVERGREENHEALTH ASSURES ME
THAT THEY ARE CONTINUING TO
TEST PEOPLE FOR COVID-19 ,
USING THE GUIDELINES UNDER THE
CDC.
CDC.
CDC. WE
CDC. WE ARE LIVE IN KIRKLAND.
AMY MORENO, KING 5 NEWS.
>>> FEDERAL COURTS IN TACOMA
AND SEATTLE HAVE POSTPONED JURY
AND GRAND JURY TRIALS DUE TO
THE OUTBREAK.
THE OUTBREAK. U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE RICARDO
MARTINEZ SAID IN A STATEMENT
THE COURTS WOULD REVIEW THE
SITUATION ON MARCH 31.
ALL JURORS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
>>> OUR EXCLUSIVE KING 5 NEWS
POLL SHOWS HOW PEOPLE ARE
REACTING TO THE CORONAVIRUS
CRISIS.
CRISIS.
CRISIS. WHEN ASKED HOW CONCERNED THEY
ARE, 29% SAID EXTREMELY, BUT
MANY MORE PICKED SOMEWHAT ,
ONLY 5% SAID NOT AT ALL.
WE ALSO ASKED WHAT PEOPLE
THOUGHT ABOUT THE RESPONSE FROM
STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS.
THE MAJORITY, 54%, BELIEVE IT'S
APPROPRIATE ., OVERREACTION AND
ADEQUATE HAD ABOUT THE