Governor’s emergency proclamation closes local restaurants, bars; Snoqualmie Valley Hospital suspends coronavirus testing center

UPDATE | MARCH 16th, 5:30PM

Snoqualmie Valley Hospital’s COVID-19 Testing Site is temporarily suspending sample collections due to national manufacturer back-orders on collection supplies. 

SVH stated, “We have retained enough supplies to meet the needs of those coming into our Emergency Room.  As soon as these supplies are replenished, notices will be sent out and the site will re-open.  We are committed to halting the further spread of this infection—providing access to testing is part of that effort.”

For those still awaiting testing results, results are returning to SVH in 3-5 business days and will be called to patients the same day they return — please do not call the hospital or clinics for results unless more than 5 business days have passed, which would indicate SVH was unable to read the phone number written on a registration form.

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ORIGINAL STORY

Life continues to change rapidly in King County as the novel coronavirus spreads. Yesterday Governor Inslee announced an emergency proclamation temporarily shutting down restaurants, bars and entertainment and recreational facilities due to ‘exploding’ coronavirus in Washington and globally.

The proclamation allows restaurant to do take-out and delivery services, but in-person dining is banned. Grocery stores and pharmacies will stay open. Other retail outlets will have reduced occupancy. All gatherings with over 50 participants are prohibited and all gatherings under 50 participants are prohibited unless previously announced criteria for public health and social distancing are met. Movie theaters and gyms have also been temporarily closed.

These measures take effect immediately in King County, the most populous county and the epicenter of the state’s cornonavirus outbreak.

Starbucks halted in-store seating Sunday afternoon, before the proclamation was announced. In Snoqualmie, stores were empty with chairs on tables, outdoor tables removed, and condiment stations emptied. Customers can mobile order or use the drive-thru only.

Sunday, March 15th the Washington State Department of Health released new COVID results, with 129 new positives. Approximately 8% of those tests have returned positives. 42 people have died. 10,219 test results have been reported so far by DOH – so about .0013 of the population has been tested.

Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, which opened a COVID-19 testing center last week, announced it will continue operations this week, open Monday through Friday, 10AM – 4PM.

SVH said, “Due to current manufacturer back-orders on some testing supplies the Department of Health has indicated that testing should be limited to only those with current symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) or those who have been directly exposed to someone who has tested positive for the virus.”

Only test collections are done on site at SVH. Samples are swabbed from the posterior portion of the nose. They are then submitted to a national testing lab with results back in about 3 to 4 business days.

SVH said, “Results will be called to you on the day they return to us—please do not call into the hospital or clinics for your results unless more than 5 business days have passed, ahis would indicate we were unable to read the phone number entered on your registration form.”

One other change imposed at SVH: the hospital has discontinued visitors for admitted patients until further notice to protect the most vulnerable patients. 

SVH said it tested over 300 samples in its testing center’s first week of operation, with “95% of the results returning without detectable virus.”

We are currently working on an article about steps local businesses are taking to continue serving Snoqualmie Valley residents in these unprecedented times, and how you can support them. Look for that story soon!