Seattle Immigration Office Closes Amid Coronavirus Concern

SEATTLE—The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Tukwila has closed after an employee visited the Life Care Center in Kirkland, where a coronavirus outbreak has occurred.

The office, at 12500 Tukwila International Blvd., will remain closed for 14 days, government officials said.

According to Acting Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli, the employee began exhibiting flu-like symptoms four days after visiting the nursing home, which has seen a number of COVID-19 cases.

"The office closure is effective immediately, and employees are being directed to telework if they are able," Cuccinelli posted in a tweet. "There are also ICE, CBP and FPS employees at the same facility, and all of them have received the same instructions."

Government officials told Fox Q13 the employee had visited a family member at the nursing home before it was known that the facility was impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. To date, four of the six people who have died from the flu-like virus COVID-19 in Washington state had ties to Life Care Center in Kirkland, the TV station reported.

Cuccinelli said the government employee started becoming ill on Feb. 26 after leaving work. Once it was determined that patients in the nursing home were diagnosed with the new coronavirus, the employee’s family self-quarantined and alerted employers and other relevant officials.

The employee has yet to return to work.

"DHS takes the safety & health of our employees & applicants seriously," Cuccinelli said. "We're following CDC’s guidelines and encourage all employees and applicants to stay home if they are feeling ill or exhibiting any flu-like symptoms."

SEE ALSO:

• 4 Coronavirus Deaths Confirmed In Kirkland As Epicenter Emerge
• Coronavirus Death Was King County Man; More Cases In WA Confirmed