The head of the American Health Care Association, Mark Parkinson (pictured), described coronavirus as 'almost a perfect killing machine' for the elderly

A US nursing head has said that coronavirus is 'almost a perfect killing machine' for elderly patients.

At least 11 nursing homes in Washington state have reported cases of the highly-contagious disease and others states are now on high alert.

The outbreak has shown that the virus spreads very quickly among senior citizens, and particularly in those with underlying health conditions who live very closely together.

It comes as Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington - linked to at least 19 deaths and hundreds of infections - has revealed residents are dying just hours after first showing symptoms

American Health Care Association President Mark Parkinson says relatives and friends should not be visiting loved ones in long-term care facilities.

'We are encouraging all people, including family members and loved ones, to not visit nursing homes and assisted living facilities,' he told CNN.

Instead, Parkinson urged that people communicate with their elderly friends and family members via phone calls, text messages or video chat to not risk spreading coronavirus.

Parkinson added that relatives and friends should not be visiting loved ones in long-term care facilities due to risk of spreading the disease. Pictured: A patient is put into an ambulance during the pouring rain outside the Life Care Center of Kirkland, March 7

At least 11 nursing homes in Washington state have reported cases, including Life Care Center of Kirkland, linked to several deaths and infections. Pictured: Healthcare workers transport a patient on a stretcher into an ambulance at Life Care Center in Kirkland, February 29

Life Care Center's spokesman said residents have gone from no symptoms to death within a matter of hours. Pictured: A worker wearing protective gear is seen through a window as she works in the room of Susan Hailey, 76, who has tested positive for coronavirus, March 10

'The grim reality is that, for the elderly, COVID-19 is almost a perfect killing machine,' he said.

Worldwide, more than 124,000 people have been infected and more than 4,400 have died

This seems particularly true for Life Care Center of Kirkland - a suburb of Seattle - one of the US hot spots for the virus.

According to the center's spokesman, Tim Killian, 55 positive tests have been linked to the facility.

Twenty-one are Life Care's current residents and the rest are those in hospitals or patients who were moved to different facilities.

Killian said staff members have found the new virus to be unpredictable and unbiased in who it effects.

Particularly, he said they'd seen patients in relatively good health suddenly develop symptoms

'We've had patients who, within an hour's time, show no symptoms to going to acute symptoms and being transferred to the hospital,' Killian said at a news conference on Sunday.

'And we've had patients die relatively quickly under those circumstances.'

One-third of Life Care's staff, about 65 people, are reporting symptoms, but only 30 have been tested so far. Pictured: Gene Campbell talks through a window with his wife of more than 60 years, Dorothy Campbell, March 5

In the US, there are more than 1,000 confirmed cases and 31 people have died. Pictured: Marty Shape, left, talks to his mother, Judy Shape, right, on the phone, at Life Care March 9

One-third of Life Care's staff, about 65 people, are reporting symptoms, but only 30 have been tested so far.

The University of Washington School of Medicine said it could test all Life Care staff, but the federal government has not given kits for the center's employees

Worldwide, more than 124,000 people in more than 100 countries have been infected with coronavirus and more than 4,500 have died.

In the US, more than 1,100 people have been diagnosed with the virus and 36 people have died.