Thurston Public Health releases details on COVID-19 outbreak at Tumwater care facility

Thurston County Public Health began investigating an outbreak of COVID-19 at Olympics West Retirement Inn in Tumwater on Wednesday, according to a county spokesperson.

An “outbreak” is defined as two or more linked cases, Public Health Director Schelli Slaughter told The Olympian. As of Thursday, county Public Health knew of two confirmed cases associated with the long-term care facility.

The county declined to answer whether the cases had been confirmed in residents or staff.

County Public Health was notified late Wednesday of the cases and began to investigate, according to spokesperson Meghan Porter. Slaughter said a testing team went the the facility to test everyone there.

Slaughter expects the results by late Friday.

These are the first two confirmed cases the county has reported at a long-term care facility.

The county did not answer a question from The Olympian regarding the characteristics of the people who live at the facility, nor a question regarding how many people were tested Wednesday. Olympics West’s website says it offers “both retirement and assisted living.”

Public health officials believe people age 65 and older and who have underlying health conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Olympics West Administrator Christene Adams emailed the following prepared statement to The Olympian Thursday afternoon:

“We can confirm that our community has its first documented case of COVID-19. In an effort to reduce a potential exposure to our residents, we are taking all necessary precautions.

“We are working closely with the CDC and local health organizations and following their direction. We are continuing to restrict visitors at this time and will continue screening staff and any essential outside providers coming into our community.”

The retirement center statement said strategies that have been implemented are:

• Screening all staff and essential visitors upon arrival to the community.
• Suspending tours of the community.
• Frequent hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water, washing for at least 20 seconds.
• Frequent daily cleaning of commonly touched environmental surfaces to decrease environmental contamination.
• Standard precautions, such as wearing masks, gloves and gowns.
• Continued self-isolation of residents in their apartments with all meals delivered.

The investigation was mentioned in a masking directive issued by Acting Public Health Director Dr. Diana Yu Wednesday. “Whereas, on May 27, 2020, an outbreak in a long-term care facility is under investigation,” a line of the directive reads.

The outbreak investigation was a factor in Dr. Yu’s decision to issue the directive that residents wear masks in public, Slaughter said, calling it a “sobering reminder that we still have transmission of COVID-19 in Thurston County.”

But, she said, news that Thurston County can move into Phase 2 of re-opening the economy weighed more heavily in the decision.

“Everyone needs to remain diligent and cautious,” Slaughter said.

This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 2:03 PM.