Spokane County’s 23 new cases most since pandemic began in March, many related to Philadelphia Macaroni Company outbreak
SPOKANE – Regional Health District officials announced today another 23 confirmed new positive cases of the novel coronavirus and the disease it carries, COVID-19. The new cases bring the county total so far during the pandemic to 526, with 31 deaths.
The 23 new cases are the highest daily total since the first three cases of the disease were confirmed back on March 14, according to Spokane Regional Health District statistics. The county has recorded 20 or more cases three other times during the pandemic, 21 on March 25 and March 28 and 20 on April 1.
The county had been seeing single-digit increases since April 25, but jumped back into double digits on May 21. Since then, 107 individuals have tested positive for the disease, with only one day of single digits being recorded, six on May 26.
According to the Health District, the recent increase in cases reflects results from testing due to an outbreak at the Philadelphia Macaroni Company in Spokane where over half of the 72 employees have tested positive. Officials explained that due to these tests, contract tracing of people these individuals might have come into contact with has also increased. Coupled with relaxing of testing criteria and increased testing accessibility, it will produce an end result of Spokane County seeing a higher number of positive cases in general.
“When we investigate positive cases, the result of reaching out to those who came in close contact is an increase in testing and possible discovery of more positive cases, many of whom may not have symptoms,” Spokane County Regional Health Director Dr. Bob Lutz said. “They now know to self-quarantine to help keep others in our community healthy.”
Lutz further explained that the current outbreak is an example of how people, in a congregate setting, can easily spread the virus to one another, reiterating that the public must remain vigilant with the Stay Home Stay Healthy measures.
Of Spokane’s 526 confirmed cases, a total of 83 individuals have been hospitalized with seven currently receiving institutional care.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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