COVID-19 spreads to Swinomish: 7 cases

Drive-through testing on Reservation

Bill Reynolds | Aug 05, 20200

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TESTING FOR THE CORONAVIRUS IN OUR BACKYARD – Testing continued Tuesday for Swinomish Indian Tribal Community members and staff in the parking lot between the dental clinic and social services buildings on the Tribe’s campus. As many as 200 people a day have been tested since testing started last Wednesday. Swinomish Medical Clinic staff are running the program, as they have been since March at their clinic. They also test Swinomish Casino and Lodge employees on a reoccurring basis. – Photo by Ken Stern

The Swinomish Medical Clinic is again hosting a drive-through COVID-19 testing site after tribal public health officials confirmed seven positive cases for the coronavirus in a public notice released Monday.

“Several of the individuals are asymptomatic, meaning they do not have any symptoms of the illness,” the release stated.

Testing ran last Wednesday-Friday and started Tuesday. An end date has not been set, staff on the site said Tuesday.

The Swinomish Public Health Team is contact tracing to find and instruct people in close contact with persons testing positive to also quarantine. Skagit County’s Public Health Department will assist as needed.

In its release, Swinomish stated there have been nine positive cases since the outbreak of the pandemic. Two of those cases involved tribal members who were in off-reservation nursing care. Two deaths and three hospitalizations have resulted from COVID-19.

Swinomish public health leaders are urging tribal community members and employees to be vigilant in following safety precautions previously outlined by the Swinomish Senate. Those include:

• Wash hands often;

• Wear masks outside the home;

• Maintain six feet of social distancing when outside the household;

• Only leave home for essential purposes;

• If instructed to quarantine, only leave home to seek medical care;

• Only allow household members in your home

• Avoid going in other people’s homes.

Testing Tuesday was from 12-5 p.m. in the parking lot between the Swinomish Dental Clinic and Social Services Building. Testing is available to all tribal members, community members having had potential exposure and tribal employees.

Over 200 people are being tested daily, a staff person said.

As a result of the recent confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Swinomish, the tribal dental clinic has cancelled appointments other than emergencies though Thursday. Those experiencing a dental emergency are advised to call the clinic to be triaged over the phone.