March 12 Update on Kirkland’s Response to COVID-19 Outbreak

Published on March 12, 2020

The City continues to operate its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate our response to the presence of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in our community. 

Update on First Responders 

The Kirkland Fire and Police Departments remain fully staffed and responding to calls as normal.  City first responders have CDC recommended personal protection equipment and are following recommended protocols.  

The City of Kirkland currently has nineteen firefighters and zero police officers in quarantine.  Twenty-seven firefighters have now been released after completing their recommended quarantine period. Most first responders are in isolation or quarantine at home. Fire Station 21 continues to be kept offline and is available to firefighters for isolation, a second facility is being used for quarantine.  

“We are grateful that we’ve been able to release many firefighters back to duty.” said Kirkland Fire Chief Joe Sanford. “I continue to be impressed everyday with our first responders and I can’t express how proud I am of their dedication to serving the community”. 

 All of our first responders that are currently symptomatic are in the process of being tested. We’ve had twenty-two tests come back negative, and one positive test for COVID-19. For the tests results that have been negative, first responders will remain in quarantine for the entire 14-day period recommended by Public Health Seattle-King County. While the City appreciates the outpouring of support and concern from the community for our first responders, the City cannot accept donations at this time.  

 Update on Guidance from the State and County 

Under the order of the Governor, events that take place in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties with more than 250 people are prohibited by the state. This order applies to gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational activities.

 These include but are not limited to: community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; conventions; fundraisers and similar activities. 

The decision to prohibit large-scale events was not taken lightly – and involved discussions with many leaders. This is a strategy to slow the spread of the virus, reduce the number of those infected, and help prevent serious illness. This strategy is referred to as flattening the curve, reducing the rate of spread to avoid overwhelming the healthcare system. 

 In addition, the local health officer provided the direction that public events with fewer than 250 attendees are prohibited, unless event organizers can take steps to minimize risk. Event organizers must ensure that: 

  • Older and vulnerable individuals have been encouraged not to attend
  • Recommendations for social distancing and limiting close contact are met
  • Employees or volunteers leading an event are screened for symptoms each day
  • Proper hand washing, sanitation, and cleaning is readily available
  • Environmental cleaning guidelines are followed (e.g., clean and disinfect high touch surfaces daily or more frequently)

 For retail businesses — such as grocery stores, drug stores, movie theaters, restaurants, and other retail establishments— Public Health has issued a Guidance(PDF, 450KB)  document that details how to comply with the new order.  

Some key elements of the new guidance now encourage employees, onsite contractors and customers to: 

  • Stop handshaking – use other non-contact methods of greeting
  • Clean hands at the door and schedule regular hand-washing reminders by email
  • Promote “tap and pay” to limit handling of cash
  • Create new habits and reminders to avoid touching their faces and cover coughs and sneezes
  • Disinfect frequently-touched surfaces like doorknobs, tables, desks, and handrails regularly
  • Increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning

 Businesses are encouraged to avoid crowding through using booking to stagger customer flow, using online transactions, and following guidance to limit attendance at larger gatherings. Businesses are also encouraged to strengthen health screening for staff who handle food directly and ensure have staff practice strict hygiene. 

 More information is available on the Public Health Seattle-King County website. 

 Update from Lake Washington School District 

The Lake Washington School District (LWSD) has made the decision to close all schools from March 12 through March 27, and re-evaluate any further closures during that time.  

For more information visit the Lake Washington School District website.  

 Update on City Operations 

Following current direction from Public Health—Seattle & King County, and our ongoing needs to have the capacity to staff our emergency operations center we have concluded that the City will be cancelling all City evening meetings except for City Council meetings until the end of March. This includes Commissions, Boards, and all Neighborhood Association meetings. The City of Kirkland Passport Office will be closed from Monday, March 9th through Friday, March 20th.  

 The City of Kirkland has also cancelled all recreation programming and classes and closed community centers to the public through Tuesday, March 31.  

 The Kirkland Municipal Court is modifying their court schedule. Effective Monday, March 16 - March 27, 2020, the court will reschedule all hearings except for mandatory DV/DUI charges (which must be heard the next judicial day) and in-custody defendants.  The Court will tentatively resume normal operations on 3/30/20. More court details are available at: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/Municipal_Court.htm 

 More information and full list of recommendations are available from Public Health—Seattle & King County  https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/news/2020/March/4-covid-recommendations.aspx 

The City will continue to update its website with information on the COVID-19 outbreak. 

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