Health & Fitness
Kirkland, Redmond Firefighters Monitored For Signs Of Coronavirus
All firefighters who assisted patients infected with the COVID-19 virus are in a precautionary quarantine, officials said Saturday.
KIRKLAND, WA โ All firefighters who helped transport patients infected with the new coronavirus will remain under quarantine for two weeks, officials said Saturday.
King County Public Health announced three new cases of COVID-19 during a press conference Saturday afternoon. Among them was a man in his 50s who died at EvergreenHealth Hospital in Kirkland, health officials said. A second patient was identified as a woman in her 70s, who was a resident at LifeCare. She is listed in serious condition at EvergreenHealth Hospital.
The third patient, a woman in her 40s, a health care worker at LifeCare, is being treated for the virus at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue.
Find out what's happening in Kirklandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Related: Coronavirus Death Was King County Man; More Cases In WA Confirmed
Officials in Kirkland and Redmond have confirmed that all fire department personnel who assisted in transporting the infected patients will be monitored for signs of the virus for two weeks.
Find out what's happening in Kirklandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Out of an abundance of caution, firefighters that were involved in patient care have been placed under quarantine," said Kellie Stickney, a City of Kirkland spokesperson.
In Redmond, city officials said all seven involved firefighters were asymptomatic, but would stay in quarantine as directed by King County Public Health.
"We have identified all firefighters who came in contact with the patients that tested positive for the virus," a city spokesperson said. "These firefighters have been removed from service and will be quarantined for 14 days, based upon the Health Department's recommendation."
The total number of firefighters currently under monitoring in Kirkland was not immediately released. City officials said an update would be provided Sunday.
News of the latest cases followed an announcement Friday night that a Snohomish County teen and a King County woman had returned "presumptive positive" tests for the virus.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Learn more about the COVID-19 public health response in Washington state:
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