Coronavirus Activity Is Increasing In King County, Officials Warn

SEATTLE, WA — After a steady decline in coronavirus activity in King County since late July, health officials are sounding the alarm over growing transmission rates heading into the colder months.

According to Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer for King County, the number of cases has trended upward, along with an increase seen in the county's overall testing positivity rate. As the weather changes and more people head indoors, Duchin said the potential for a "significantly larger" outbreak than previously seen is possible — but not unavoidable.

"We are entering a very challenging time, both locally and nationally, with respect to COVID," Duchin said. "I implore people to step back for a minute, to remember what works and to rededicate themselves to doing everything they can do as individuals — and that we can do as a community — to minimize the potential for a great degree of illness and suffering this fall and winter."

Duchin pointed to a new outbreak along the University of Washington's Greek Row, where more than 100 students living off-campus recently tested positive for the coronavirus. He said it was another example of how quickly illness can spread in congregate settings, especially when people participate in large gatherings, fail to wear face coverings indoors and do not maintain physical distance.

"Even a small number of COVID-19 cases, if introduced into an environment where spread is easy, can rapidly explode into a large outbreak," Duchin said.

According to UW, testing efforts have identified only a handful of infections among students living in residence halls on the Seattle campus.

Public Health shares timeline of Salish Lodge outbreak

Another high profile outbreak was disclosed this week at the Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie. Duchin said roughly two dozen of the resort's 80 employees tested positive, with cases primarily diagnosed in kitchen staff, and a smaller percentage seen in housekeeping and management.

A public health spokesperson told Patch the first case was identified during a contact tracing interview on Sept. 18. Three days later, another interview revealed one more employee who tested positive, prompting Public Health to send a workplace investigation team. Officials said management told the team about additional employees and were in the process of shutting down areas where that transmission may have happened.

On Sept. 28, Public Health learned of more employee cases, indicating widespread infection among the resort's workforce. Two days later, the lodge voluntarily closed and Public Health publicly disclosed the outbreak, aiming reach more visitors who may have been unknowingly exposed.

Health officials renew call for vigilance to prevent further outbreaks

Pinpointing the source of an outbreak can prove difficult for contact tracers, Duchin said, since there countless opportunities for infection during daily interactions, including those who may be asymptomatic. Health officials say the best methods to prevent infection have not changed and should always be maintained: wear face coverings, limit exposure to others and practice good hygiene.

Duchin identified two potential factors that lent to the recent spike in activity: recent rounds of smoke and rain keeping more people indoors, and some complacency this deep into the pandemic.

"We've also heard from folks about COVID fatigue," Duchin said. "There have been lots of social gatherings — small ones, relatively speaking — among friends, but still large enough to facilitate infection."

Both of those challenges are likely to persist as the weather cools.

"The virus is going to be able to spread much more readily in the fall and winter," Duchin said. "In response to that, if we're not going to become victims, we're going to need to up our game and meet the challenge that the increase in transmission poses."

Duchin said following all public health guidance is essential for it to be effective, including continuing to avoid crowds, limiting interactions overall and considering each environment, like the level of ventilation in indoor settings.

"It's in our power to make it fewer rather than greater if we only take the steps," Duchin said. "The type of outbreaks that we see this coming fall, and the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths that we experience, will be a direct result of the actions we take."

Read about reducing the risk of infections this fall and winter on the Public Health Insider blog.