Fatal COVID outbreak at care facility now deemed controlled
MOSES LAKE – Grant County Health District officials say a COVID-19 outbreak that claimed at least two lives and affected more than 45 residents and staff at a long-term care facility in the county earlier this month is now considered under control.
On Friday, GCHD public information officer Lexi Smith said no new cases had been reported in the facility over the past 14 days.
In a news release Wednesday, the health district reported seeing a rise in COVID-19 activity in August, including the care facility outbreak, which was deemed “significant.”
“Our recent outbreak is a painful reminder that COVID-19 can still have a devastating impact, especially for older adults and people with underlying health conditions”, Grant County Health Officer Dr. Alexander Brzezny said in the release. “Our hearts are with the families and friends grieving the loss of their loved ones who passed away during this outbreak.”
Smith said the health district opted to not publicly identify the care facility or where it is located “while navigating circumstances” of the outbreak. A third death remains under investigation, and there were some hospitalizations associated with the outbreak, she said.
The gender and ages of the affected persons were not disclosed in order to protect their anonymity “as best as we can,” said Smith.
She said 45% of the affected residents had at least one dose of the 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine, while noting that vaccinations are a decision made by the families and patients – not the facility itself.
In coordination with GCHD, the care facility acted to prevent further spread of the virus. Measures included isolation of infected residents, screening and testing of residents and staff, use of personal protective equipment, and more. In addition, the health district and regional public health emergency response staff provided several commercial air purifiers to improve air quality.
In its news release, the health district says COVID-19 vaccine can help reduce the chances of severe illness, hospitalization, and death in all age groups, but particularly for persons age 65 and older, children ages 3 months to 23 months, and individuals with other underlying health conditions or living in a long-term care facility.
In 2024, the “summer wave” of coronavirus infections resulting in emergency department visits in Grant County were highest in the first week of September, climbing 3.5%, said Smith. This summer, the number of virus-related emergency visits jumped 1.2% in the first week of August and are continuing to increase, she said.
“An increase in COVID-19 activity has also been observed in Washington state and many other parts of the U.S., however the trends are unpredictable and can change,” the health district stated.
Individuals who experience flu-like symptoms are encouraged to get tested for COVID. Prescription medicines are available to treat mild-to-moderate cases in adults who are at high risk for severe disease, but it is important to start treatment quickly to prevent serious complications.
The COVID-19 pandemic arrived in March 2020 and peaked the following winter in Grant County with over 80 related deaths between November and January 2021. Cases subsided significantly by spring 2023, but the virus remains active. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, nearly 1.2 million people nationwide had died of COVID-19 complications as of June 1, 2024.
