Dozens of employees at Kaiser Permanente Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro have been quarantined after it was determined they may have had contact with the COVID-19 virus.

The first Oregonian to come down with the virus sought treatment at the facility and was eventually put into isolation. But at some point, he came into contact with unprotected employees, according to Michael Foley, a spokesman for Kaiser.

Sources within local healthcare unions said as many as 70 Kaiser Westside workers were placed in quarantine. The number has been declining, Foley said, as Kaiser has determined certain employees were never exposed. Foley refused to provide additional details, including how many total employees were quarantined and exactly how many remain off duty.

"Per current CDC guidelines, people who have had contact with COVID-19 patients are asked to maintain self-isolation at home for 14 days,” said Dr. Mary E. Giswold, associate director of Kaiser’s hospital and post-acute care. “Some of our staff, including nurses and physicians, met the criteria for contact and are on furlough. The number of furloughed staff changed daily, as we began with an abundance of caution and followed with a more detailed investigation into whether contact occurred.”

The Kaiser employees will be paid during their furlough.

Subscribe to our Oregon coronavirus newsletter:

Email:

It is typical in a public health emergency for anyone suspected of coming into contact with the virus to place themselves in voluntary quarantine at their residence.

CORONAVIRUS IN OREGON: FULL COVERAGE

COVID-19 can be a highly-contagious virus that causes flu-like symptoms. The virus first broke out in China and managed to get to the western United States by mid-January. More than 3,000 people have died after contracting the virus.

Three cases have been reported in Oregon since last Friday. The state’s first two are adults -- the first presumptive COVID-19 patient lives in Washington County but works at Forest Hills Elementary School in Lake Oswego in Clackamas County and the second patient is a family member. The third case, announced Monday, is a man from Umatilla County who works at the Wildhorse Resort and Casino in Pendleton.

Union officials representing nurses and other staffers said the situation at Kaiser Westside raises concerns about the health care industry’s ability to cope with a widespread contagion. Health care workers are the first line of defense in the fight to ward off infectious disease.

Health care workers will inevitably contract the virus or will be sidelined because of concerns they might have been exposed. That will leave hospitals with a choice of replacing them or making do with fewer workers.

“Adequate staffing is our greatest concern,” said Meg Niemi, president of Service Employees International Union Local 49, which represents “hundreds” of employees at Kaiser Westside.

Inevitably, some of the replacement staff may also get sidelined for the two weeks or actually contract the virus, which can be highly contagious.

“How would you feel as a patient if the nurse that usually has four patients suddenly has six to eight,” said Lynda Pond, president of the Oregon Nurse’s Association. “The snowball effect on staffing has the potential for being pretty disastrous.”

Health care workers are concerned that vital equipment is in short supply and that they’ve received minimal training.

For now, Niemi said, there are sufficient supplies of standard surgical masks and the more heavy-duty N95 respirator masks, but if the infection rate continues unabated, it won’t take long for shortages to occur.

It’s unclear whether local hospitals currently have sufficient supplies on hand for both staff and patients.

Kaiser’s Giswold said the company has developed contingency plans and shifted work schedules.

“We also have the option of bringing in additional staff on contract, as we regularly conduct contingency planning for events, such as snowstorms, that could impact staff resources," she said. “We are also working with OHA and others to implement procedures and protocols that will reduce staff impacts should we begin treating additional patients.”

In Oregon, public health officials are monitoring individuals who are suspected of having contact with the virus.

Niemi confirmed on Monday that a number of employees from the Kaiser Westside center have been placed on two-week furloughs, though she didn’t know the exact total. She added that none of her members have gotten ill.

“We’re very proud of our members,” she said. “They go to work every day whatever the circumstances.”

More than 90,300 people worldwide have contracted the virus and about 3,100 people have died. In the U.S., 99 people have contracted the virus.

-- Jeff Manning

JManning@oregonian.com

503-221-8005| @JeffManningOre

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.