Attendees of Labor Day events in central Washington should get COVID test
Sep 8, 2021, 7:11 AM | Updated: 9:21 am
A nurse administers a test during a COVID-19 testing and flu shot event at the Tacoma Dome in 2020 in Tacoma, Washington. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
Health experts in Ellensburg are recommending that anyone who attended one of the city’s major events this past weekend get a COVID-19 test in the next few days.
108 COVID cases attributed to Northwest Washington Fair
This suggestion applies to anyone who attended the Kittitas County Fair, Ellensburg Rodeo, or was at the Gorge over Labor Day weekend. There were thousands of people at the fair, rodeo, parade, and a big logging show. Thousands more saw Dave Matthews Band at the Gorge for shows on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
“These were people who attended very public events, and I don’t believe there was a lot of masking going on,” said Julie Petersen, CEO of Kittitas Valley Healthcare.
Petersen says the hospital was already stretched thin treating COVID patients before Labor Day weekend, to the point of not having enough room for stroke and heart attack patients. They expect a surge in testing this week, and are planning on it.
“We’re going to be staffing up the testing clinic, and it’s a great service that we can reach out and provide to the community,” she said.
She says early detection of COVID and quarantine measures will help prevent more hospitalizations.
State’s hospitals warn stroke, appendicitis patients seeing delayed care
Hospitals statewide saw a 7% jump in COVID patients this past week, and that’s before Labor Day.
