Closures

Some schools have closed in response to confirmed or potential coronavirus cases.

Jackson High, part of Everett Public Schools, will be closed March 2 to allow for deep cleaning and disinfecting after a teenager tested positive for coronavirus. The teen is at home in isolation but visited Seattle Children’s North Clinic last week.

Renton School District announced Sunday that Hazen High School will also be closed March 2 after learning a student and their parents are experiencing flu-like symptoms and were tested for coronavirus. The school will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, according to a press release. The parent works in the healthcare industry and became sick last Sunday. The student became sick Wednesday and did not attend classes Thursday or Friday.

Lake Washington Institute of Technology will be closed March 2 and 3 to continue disinfecting the campus after students visited in the nursing facility in Kirkland where two people tested positive for coronavirus.

On Sunday evening, the Kent School District announced Kentwood High School and Covington Elementary will be closed March 2 out of an abundance of caution due to coronavirus concerns.

In a message sent to the Kent School District community, school officials learned that a parent of Kentwood students is experiencing flu-like symptoms and is waiting to be tested for the coronavirus. The family is currently in self-quarantine and have been in contact with local health officials.

According to school officials, the parent was at a local health care center recently, where other positive cases have been confirmed and then became with flue-like symptoms last Wednesday.

The students did attend school and activities last week but are not symptomatic at this time.

Another member of the family works at Covington Elementary and is not showing any signs of flu-like symptoms but did attend work last week.

The school district has contacted Public Health – Seattle & King County.

Frank Love Elementary School will also be closed Monday due to coronavirus concerns.

A staffer at the school is being tested for the coronavirus and was directed to self-quarantine, according to the superintendent of Northshore School District.

The school’s support services staff will disinfect the entire school.

Last week Bothell High School was closed due to possible exposure.

On March 3, all Northshore schools will be closed to students so staff members can receive training on how to engage students in remote learning should it be necessary in the coming days, the superintendent said.

Also, a district-wide cleaning and disinfection is being coordinated for each school.

The F5 Tower in downtown Seattle will be closed Monday due to coronavirus concerns.

Below is a statement from the company:

“An F5 employee in our Seattle headquarters has been in contact with an individual who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). We are committed to supporting this employee’s health, as well as protecting their privacy.

Our concern is with the health and safety of our employees, customers, partners, and communities worldwide; and we have and will continue to put in place public safety measures. This includes sanitizing our offices and closing the F5 Tower for business on March 2; encouraging local employees to work from home; postponing or converting large in-person events to virtual meetings, and prohibiting all non-essential international and domestic business travel.”

How you can protect yourself

Symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Patients reportedly have mild to severe respiratory illness.

These are steps health officials recommend to protect yourself:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.
• Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill.

Gov. Inslee’s response

Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency Saturday afternoon in response to the new cases of COVID-19, telling agencies to use all resources necessary to respond to the outbreak. He also authorized the use of the Washington National Guard if necessary.

“This will allow us to get the resources we need,” Inslee said. “This is a time to take common-sense, proactive measures to ensure the health and safety of those who live in Washington state. Our state agency directors have been actively preparing since the nation’s first case appeared in Snohomish County. Washingtonians can be assured we’ve taken this threat seriously and have been working in collaboration with our health care partners to develop plans and procedures to prepare for what could likely be a worldwide pandemic.”

Source: https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/department-health-confirms-first-coronavirus-death-washington-state/XIDPHMLVOJAAREQ5YCL75367PU/