DOH setting up potential COVID-19 quarantine, isolation site in Thurston County
The state Department of Health has identified the Maple Lane property in south Thurston County as a possible isolation and quarantine site for people who have or could have COVID-19, the 2019 novel coronavirus, the county announced Wednesday.
Pods of recreational vehicles are being set up there in case the site is needed, DOH spokesperson Jamie Nixon told The Olympian Thursday, but it’s possible they will never be used.
Thurston County hasn’t yet reported any cases of COVID-19; the one confirmed case in Washington state was in Snohomish County, and 26 people had tested negative for the virus statewide as of Thursday, according to DOH.
“The actions being taken by DOH to set up this facility are being done out of an abundance of caution,” a Thurston County press release reads.
If the need does arise, Maple Lane would look similar to the site in Shoreline, the county says.
The first, preferred option is to quarantine or isolate a person at home. There are cases when that isn’t possible — say, a person is part of a big family, DOH spokesperson Nixon said.
An RV pod at Maple Lane used for quarantine would house healthy people who have possibly been exposed to COVID-19, have no symptoms, and can’t safely quarantine at home, according to the county release.
If used for isolation, an RV pod would house people who have possibly been exposed to COVID-19, have symptoms, and can’t remain isolated at home. Nixon said this could apply to people who have developed symptoms and are waiting for test results or who have confirmed cases but aren’t very sick.
Maple Lane housed a youth detention center until it closed in 2011, according to the Department of Corrections.
The facility currently houses the Department of Corrections pharmacy and other Corrections staff as well as a facility being leased by the Department of Social and Health Services where roughly 30 patients are receiving competency restoration treatment services, DOC spokesperson Janelle Guthrie wrote in an email to The Olympian.
The RVs will be in a fenced-in location on the Maple Lane property, not in the facility or its parking lot, Guthrie said in a phone interview.
“Individuals who would use this service would be safely away from other people and would pose no risk to employees at the Maple Lane facility or anyone nearby,” said Dr. Kathy Lofy, State Health Officer, in the county press release. “We are confident in our training, planning, and ability to use these sites safely. There is no need for neighbors or businesses nearby to worry about the spread of COVID-19 from this location.”
The county Public Health and Social Services page with information on the virus recommends these steps to prevent the spread of illnesses:
- Wash hands often with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer if washing your hands isn’t an option.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home while you’re sick and avoid close contact with others.
- Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
To ask questions about the virus, what’s happening in Washington, and what to do if you have symptoms, call the DOH call center at 800-525-0127 and press #.
This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 2:30 PM with the headline "DOH setting up potential COVID-19 quarantine, isolation site in Thurston County."
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