The City of Sammamish has been notified by Eastside Fire and Rescue (EF&R) that a patient at the Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center tested positive for COVID-19. Three EF&R firefighters, who had contact with the patient, are self-quarantining out of an abundance of caution and are currently asymptomatic. Emergency response staffing is not affected, and EF&R continues to operate at its full capability.

While this individual case is outside of City limits, we know that residents within the care facility may have ties to our community.

If you, or a loved one, has had recent contact with someone inside this facility, Public Health has specific advice for people who may have been around someone with COVID-19. See their full recommendations here.

First, know that you generally need to be in close contact with someone with COVID-19 to get infected. Close contact includes scenarios like living with or caring for a person with confirmed COVID-19, being within six feet of a person with confirmed COVID-19 for about 10 minutes, or if someone with COVID-19 coughed on you, kissed you, shared utensils with you or you had direct contact with their body secretions.

• If you may have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 but are not sick:
• Monitor your health for fever, cough and shortness of breath for 14 days after your last contact with the ill person.
• Do not go to school or work. Avoid public places for 14 days.

• If you are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are sick:
• If you are sick with fever, cough, or shortness of breath, even if your symptoms are mild, isolate yourself.
• If you are at higher risk for severe illness (over 60, with underlying health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes), have a weakened immune system or are pregnant) call your health care provider. They may want to test you for COVID-19.
• If you have symptoms but are not in a high risk category, talk with your health care provider. They will help you determine if you need to be evaluated.

Our thoughts are with all the affected families in the region. King County Public Health has established a call center for those individuals who believe they may be exposed: 206-477-3977.