Yes Kninjanin, the coronavirus flu is in my state, Washington. From KIRO news in Seattle, "The Washington State Department of Health updated its statewide count to 123 deaths from 2,469 cases as of Tuesday March 24th at 6 p.m."
We were one of the early US epicenters; the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland where 29 people, out of total 120 residents, tragically died from this terrible disease between February 19 and March 20. And Kirkland is a wealthy city, so you know the people got excellent care, which is crucially important for recovery.
Some of our cases got spread out from there, it is thought. In my county, about 87 miles from Kirkland, "there are fourteen confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Thurston County as of 3/24/20 3:00pm.," according to our state health dept. but no one has died yet, thankfully. Like everywhere, we don't have enough tests so the number is doubtless much higher.
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The whole state is reeling from this loss among our elders, and my community is doing everything to make it possible for us to just stay at home. The food bank delivers an extra box to our door every week, for example.
Also -- I smiled at this, it's so typical of a small town in a crisis -- the senior center sent out a call if any senior needs a hot lunch, they will bring it to you. Well, a few seniors signed up for that...along with several dozen people who called in, spontaneously volunteering to take the lunches around to the old people!
So yes the virus is here, but we are trying to take care of everybody the very best possible, and get on top of this flu quick.
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Oh, and just one more hopeful story from the Kirkland Care Center...there was a wonderful old lady in her 90's, she had come to the Center in January after a stroke. Well she got the flu and the doctors put her on a ventilator but did not think she would make it. Suddenly, however, she turned around and began to get better, and now she is sitting up and eating her favourite potato soup which her family brings her every day!