A Seattle-area nursing home faces a $611,000 federal fine for a series of failures leading to it becoming the early epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States.

The Life Care Center in Kirkland, connected to at least 40 coronavirus deaths, had failed to properly care for and report to state authorities a surge of respiratory illnesses in mid-February, as required by local law — missteps that put its 120 live-in patients in direct danger, according to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal agency.

State regulators and federal investigators at the agency said Life Care was too slow to identify sick patients and allowed for workers to clock in while sick.

As the number of respiratory cases spiked, the center went on as planned with organized group events in late February where food was shared among attendees, including a Mardi Gras party for dozens of residents and visitors.

The center could appeal the fine. But it also faces the potential of losing Medicare and Medicaid funding if it doesn’t correct health deficiencies reported by CMS by Sept. 16, 2020.

Life Care did not respond to a request for comment. The Tennessee-based chain said in a statement issued to The Washington Post that it would “continue to work with CMS to find solutions” to issues raised in a CMS report.

“We are working hard to address their current concerns in a timely and respectful manner so as to provide our residents the best care,” the statement said.

With Post wires.