As an illness spread through a nursing home in Kirkland in late February, City Manager Kurt Triplett says that testing was a key missing factor that left officials unsatisfied as they responded to the outbreak.

“Testing would have made a huge difference in the past two weeks," Triplett told KUOW. "Testing, even now today, could be much better, faster and more adequate. I don’t think anyone should be satisfied. I know everyone now gets it, why it’s so critical. And I know everyone is giving their best efforts to make more tests available, and the turnaround faster. But, no, the city wasn’t happy, but I don’t think anyone should be happy.”

As Washington sees the outbreak of COVID-19 continue to spread, nursing homes where vulnerable populations are located are expected to be hit especially hard. While most people are expected to experience mild symptoms, people above the age of 60 and people with compromised immune systems or health complications are at high risk.

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The Life Care Center in Kirkland was the first such facility to report the novel virus. According to Public Health - Seattle & King County, there have been 22 COVID-19 deaths associated with Life Care Center.

Triplett provided insight into how a city such as his is facing what is now deemed a global pandemic. He notes that his city’s firefighters first noticed an excessive number of calls coming from the facility in late February. The fire department quickly notified the local health department that something like a flu could be going around the Life Care Center.

“What evolved over the next week is that the Kirkland Fire Department became the primary medical care for that facility,” Triplett told KUOW. “They were calling 911 repeatedly. We were going in. We were dealing with patients. We were making decisions on the ground whether to transport that patient or not. So we’ve really been front-and-center for the original response to the Life Care Center."