Coronavirus keeps taking a toll on the nursing home at the center of Washington State’s coronavirus outbreak. This time, employees are the ones who are coming down sick.
Of the 180-plus workers at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, 47 have tested positive and 24 have tested negative for COVID-19, KIRO-TV reporter Alison Grande tweeted. One employee had an inconclusive test and five are still waiting for their results.
Another 18 were scheduled for testing Saturday and 95 are symptomatic, according to Grande’s tweet. It wasn’t clear if the 95 who have symptoms have been tested.
At least 25 residents have died from COVID-19, and more than half have tested positive.
Four days before the coronavirus outbreak was confirmed, the nursing home threw a Mardi Gras party. Residents who were sick with a respiratory illness, which the staff thought was the flu, were asked not to participate, according to KIRO.

Family members are upset about a lack of information being provided, Grande reported, and have been attending media briefings to find out what’s going on.

The virus has been confirmed in at least 11 nursing homes or senior apartments in western Washington, the AP reported. A cluster also has emerged at a veterans home in Lebanon, Oregon, where eight cases were confirmed.
Washington State has the highest number of cases in the country — 569 confirmed cases. New York is right behind, with 524 cases, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday.

Nursing homes nationwide are on high alert for coronavirus, boosting their cleaning regimens and restricting or banning visitors.