COVID outbreaks at Salish Lodge, UW’s Greek Row

SNOQUALMIE, Wash. — Public Health - Seattle & King County are managing two COVID-19 outbreaks.

The Salish Lodge and Spa at Snoqualmie Falls shut down on Thursday for a week after 23 employees and two guests tested positive for COVID. According to the health department, the employees worked in different parts of the facility.

Alan Stephens, the general manager of the Salish Lodge and Spa, said they shut down out of an abundance of caution.

“What I want our guests to know is they are family, and our team members are family, and the health and safety of our families are the most important part of this,” said Stephens.

Public health researchers from the health department are investigating. It is unknown if the two guests who tested positive are connected to the cases among employees.

Public Health says anyone who visited the lodge, ate in the restaurant or went to the spa since Sept. 16 should be tested for COVID-19, watch for symptoms, and quarantine.

Salish Lodge staff are contacting all guests who stayed at the hotel during the impacted period.

The Salish Lodge and Spa hired its own public health researcher to help coordinate the testing of employees. All 238 employees will be tested again on Tuesday, ahead of their reopening planned for Thursday.

Public Health is also working hard at the University of Washington to contain a second outbreak in the Greek system.

As of Thursday, 104 students had tested positive since Sept. 11.

During the first outbreak in July, 154 students got sick. The health department is once again setting up surge testing within walking distance of Greek Row. This year, fewer people are living in the fraternities and sororities to reduce the transmission of COVID.

Public Health says it is working closely with UW and the Greek system to contain the outbreak.

Cox Media Group