Thurston County site prepared for possible coronavirus quarantine

An additional location has been identified by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) as a potential coronavirus quarantine isolation site, if the need arises.

Bothell High closed Thursday due to coronavirus concerns

The location is Maple Lane, a Department of Corrections property in South Thurston County. The DOH assures that this location is being established out of caution. There are no cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the county at this time. The first choice for patients is and will be quarantine or isolation at home, but sites like this provide a space for people who may have been exposed, are not showing symptoms, and can not self-quarantine to have a place to stay.

The news release about the new location states that the risk to the public remains low, as of Wednesday.

“Individuals who would use this service would be safely away from other people and would pose no risk to employees at the Maple Lane facility or anyone nearby,” said Dr. Kathy Lofy, State Health Officer for the State of Washington. “We are confident in our training, planning, and ability to use these sites safely. There is no need for neighbors or businesses nearby to worry about the spread of COVID-19 from this location.”

Similar to the quarantine location established in Shoreline, Wash., at the beginning of February, the Maple Lane site will house two pods of RVs. One RV pod would be for isolation, and the other for quarantine. The news release defines isolation as people who have symptoms, and quarantine as people who may have been exposed but do not have any symptoms.

The Fire Training Academy in North Bend previously designated as a quarantine site is no longer being reserved for that purpose. No patients were sent there.

The best thing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect your health is to wash your hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, cover coughs and sneezes, stay home from work if you’re sick, and get a flu shot.

UW doctor: ‘Not time to panic’ about coronavirus, but still cause for concern

At the time of publishing, there has been one confirmed case in Washington state. The patient has fully recovered and been cleared to resume normal activity. There are 335 people under public health supervision in Washington, and 29 have been tested with 26 returning negative, 2 pending results.

In a media update Thursday, State Health Officer Dr. Kathy Lofy said Washington state is in a “containment” phase, working to ensure the virus does not get to the state, and planning how to prevent it from spreading if it does.

Lofy reiterated the importance of washing your hands or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. The risk to the general public is still low, Lofy said, but Washington is preparing for any future spread. Starting Friday, the state will have an expanded ability to test patients who may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are showing respiratory symptoms.