King County’s Kent COVID-19 isolation and quarantine facility was once an Econo Lodge, as seen in this photo taken by Scott Schaefer in March, 2020.
A COVID-19 patient residing at the Kent isolation and quarantine facility was found deceased in his room on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, Public Health – Seattle & King County announced.
The man in his 50s was found unresponsive Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. during a routine check by medical staff. The individual was a long-time resident of a transitional housing facility in King County and arrived at the Kent I&Q facility on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
Officials say the patient passed away between 9:30 p.m. Monday night (Jan. 24) and 11:00 a.m. Tuesday (Jan. 25, 2022).
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office will be investigating the death. The victim’s identity has not yet been released.
This is the second death to occur at a King County I&Q facility since the sites opened in March, 2020. The first death occurred in April 2020.
Since opening, King County’s isolation and quarantine facilities have provided care for 3,686 unique patients. This is the second death to occur at a King County isolation and quarantine facility.
“We are saddened to learn of the death of our guest in Kent, and we mourn for the families and communities who have lost loved ones throughout the pandemic,” said Leo Flor, Director of the King County Department of Community and Human Services and Dennis Worsham, Interim Director of Public Health – Seattle & King County. “King County remains committed to providing a place to rest and recover when that space is unavailable at home for any number of reasons including the fragility of the health of a family member, or for people who do not have a home. We could not be more thankful for the medical providers and staff who handle everyone with care and respect when they walk through our doors. We will continue to do all that we can to provide a safe place to isolate, while we reduce infections and hospitalizations so more people across the County can lead full lives during the pandemic and after.”
King County I&Q facilities are for individuals who need a place to stay while having suspected or confirmed COVID-19 illness. Each patient receives care and monitoring by medical professionals. Since the start of the pandemic, King County’s I&Q facilities have provided care for 3,686 unique patients.
Currently, two King County I&Q facilities are open in Kent and Auburn. The Auburn site opened on a temporary basis on January 3, 2022, in response to the omicron COVID-19 variant surge that created more demand for local I&Q space. The new facility provides safe, clean and comfortable rooms for 100 people to safely isolate, rest and recover, adding to the 83-person capacity at Kent.
Any King County adult who does not have a place to safely isolate and has either tested positive for COVID-19 or has moderate COVID-like symptoms can call the King County COVID-19 Call Center at 206-477-3977 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to learn more about I&Q.
Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for more than two million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day. More at www.kingcounty.gov/health
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