Bremerton hospital workers speak out after COVID-19 outbreak - 3 deaths, spread to second facility

[Emily]

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2020/09/11/three-deaths-linked-st-michael-covid-19-outbreak/5772718002/

Three deaths linked to St. Michael's COVID-19 outbreak, Kitsap Public Health reports
Austen Macalus Kitsap Sun
Sept 11-12, 2020

Three people's deaths have now been linked to the COVID-19 outbreak at St. Michael Medical Center in Bremerton, Kitsap Public Health officials reported Friday afternoon.

The three deaths, all among patients at the Bremerton hospital, include two Kitsap County residents and a person from another county, according to a new report by the Kitsap Public Health District.
...
The outbreak now includes confirmed cases in several counties, including Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Mason and Pierce counties, thought the vast majority of cases are among Kitsap residents, according to the report's findings.
...
In a statement Friday evening, CHI Franciscan leaders said they are working with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department to investigate three COVID-19 cases among patients and the virus potentially spreading to three employees at the St. Anthony Hospital between Aug. 20 and Sept. 3.

[Emily]

https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/st-michael-medical-center-covid19-aerosol-generating-procedures/281-32762067-8d9e-4a2e-a61c-4dbe74c30fe4

Aerosol generating procedures may have contributed to spread of COVID-19 at Bremerton hospital
A total of 65 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported at St. Michael Medical Center in Bremerton.
Author: KING 5 Staff
Published: 11:53 AM PDT September 3, 2020
Updated: 10:44 PM PDT September 3, 2020

[Emily]

https://mynorthwest.com/2128840/covid-outbreak-st-michael-bremerton-60-cases/?

‘Hugely concerning’ COVID outbreak in Bremerton hospital now totals 60 cases
By Nick Bowman
August 31, 2020 at 12:00 pm

Kitsap breaks 1,000 COVID-19 cases; 61 reported from hospital
Josh Farley Kitsap Sun Aug 31 12 pm

https://kitsappublichealth.org/CommunityHealth/CoronaVirus_StMichael.php

How Kitsap Public Health is responding
• Kitsap Public Health, in coordination with the state Department of Health, state Department Labor & Industries, and local partners, has activated a comprehensive, multi-agency response to identify the full extent of the outbreak and control its spread.
• Kitsap Public Health has worked closely with St. Michael to investigate positive COVID-19 cases, notify people who may have been exposed to confirmed cases, and prevent additional illness.
• In consultation with the state Department of Health, Kitsap Public Health has made recommendations to the hospital to prevent further exposures and illnesses. These include recommendations made to the hospital on Aug. 21 and Aug. 26.
• Responding to a request from St. Michael Medical Center, the Kitsap County Emergency Operations Center Congregate Setting Outbreak Response Team, in coordination with Kitsap Public Health District, is working to provide baseline COVID-19 testing to as many as 2,500 of the medical center's Kitsap employees.

[Emily]

https://komonews.com/news/coronaviru...racts-covid-19

Bremerton hospital workers speak out after COVID-19 outbreak
by Keith Eldridge, KOMO News reporter
Tuesday, August 25th 2020

BREMERTON, Wash. — A Bremerton hospital worker has been admitted to the emergency room for treatment of breathing complications after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 amid complaints from his co-workers at St. Michael/Harrison Medical Center who say a coronavirus outbreak at the hospital could have been prevented.

“My co-worker was supposed to speak today,” said Rob Shauger, a certified nursing assistant. “But he is in the ER right now. He has tested positive for COVID-19 and he is actively in the ER right now with breathing problems.”

Some of the workers at the hospital, which is owned by CHI Franciscan, say their employer did not provide them with adequate personal protective equipment, or PPE, and did not have make the working environment safe enough for its employees...