‘They Are Prisoners In There’: Relatives Of Nursing Facility Patients At Center Of U.S. Outbreak Fear For Loved Ones

The New York Times: Coronavirus Deaths Tied To Nursing Center Came Earlier Than Anyone Knew
The first public indication that something was wrong inside the Life Care nursing care center in Kirkland, Wash., came on Friday, prompting an alarming sign to go up on the front door: “WE ARE HAVING RESPIRATORY OUTBREAK.” Since then, officials have announced a series of coronavirus cases, some of them fatal, from the facility, which has become an ominous symbol of the dangers the virus poses. On Tuesday, the authorities made another jarring announcement: The first virus-related deaths tied to the nursing center occurred days earlier than previously known — and well before residents had been quarantined in their rooms. (Baker and Weise, 3/3)

NPR: 9 Coronavirus Deaths Now Reported In Washington State
The coronavirus death toll in Washington state now stands at nine, with a total of 27 confirmed cases of the virus that causes COVID-19. The newly revised tally includes two people who died in the Seattle area last week and have since been found to have been infected with the novel coronavirus, the health department in King County, Wash., announced Tuesday. (Chappell, 3/3)

Stat: Washington State Could See Explosion In Coronavirus Cases, Study Says
The coronavirus outbreak in the Seattle area is at a critical juncture and could see explosive growth in cases much like Wuhan, China, if public officials don’t take immediate, forceful measures, according to a new analysis of genetic data. The author of the analysis, a computational biologist named Trevor Bedford, said there are likely already at least 500 to 600 cases of Covid-19 in the greater Seattle area. He urged health authorities and the public to immediately begin adopting non-pharmaceutical interventions — imposing “social distancing” measures, telling the sick to isolate themselves, and limiting attendance at large gatherings. (Branswell, 3/3)

CBS News: Daughter Of Coronavirus-Quarantined Washington State Nursing Home Resident Says “They’re Being Held Hostage”
Health officials have focused in on a cluster of conronavirus infections inside a nursing home outside of Seattle. Family members of LifeCare Center’s elderly residents told CBS News their loved ones are being isolated in their rooms and their temperatures monitored daily, but they are concerned those showing symptoms will not be tested or hospitalized until critically ill. (3/3)

The Wall Street Journal: Coronavirus Spreads In Washington State As Amazon Worker Tests Positive
An Amazon.com Inc. worker in Seattle tested positive for the novel coronavirus as concerns mounted over its spread in the U.S., though the number of new infections in China, where the outbreak began, continued to decline on Wednesday. The Amazon employee works at the company’s headquarters in Seattle, where the tech giant has about 55,000 employees, an Amazon spokeswoman said late Tuesday. The company said it has notified other workers who may have come into contact with the person. (Cherney, 3/4)

NBC News: Seattle Feels Like ‘Ghost Town,’ Business Owners Say As They Face Life In Coronavirus Hot Spot
It’s not her birthday for another month, but Ruby Francisco has been singing “Happy Birthday” a lot lately. She does it every time she washes her hands.”That’s what they said to do,” said Francisco, who owns a jewelry store here. “I tell my grandchildren to sing when they wash their hands so they do it right.” (Lozano, 3/3)

Kaiser Health News: Coronavirus Stress Test: Many 5-Star Nursing Homes Have Infection-Control Lapses
Long before the novel coronavirus made its surprise appearance, the nation’s nursing homes were struggling to obey basic infection prevention protocols designed to halt the spread of viruses and bacteria they battle daily. Since the beginning of 2017, government health inspectors have cited more nursing homes for failing to ensure that all workers follow those prevention and control rules than for any other type of violation, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis of federal records. (Rau, 3/4)