Summary

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn issued a statement after news Friday morning that a person experiencing homelessness who was awaiting COVID-19 test results while isolating at the Kent motel facility left the facility against county advice.

Story

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn issued the following statement in response to news this morning that a person isolating at the Kent motel facility while awaiting COVID-19 test results left the facility against county advice:

“Shortly after Public Health announced the approach of housing suspected Coronavirus cases in locations throughout King County, I was given assurances that these quarantine facilities would be secured. In the best interests of our residents during this crisis, I supported Public Health in their need to site these facilities.

“I am extremely disappointed to hear that a quarantine patient left the facility in Kent and is now back in the general population.

“This loss of trust means I will have much more stringent standards when considering any proposed quarantine sites in King County.

“Moving forward, I will only support quarantine sites that clearly do not endanger the health and welfare of the surrounding residential and business community, and where patients quarantined at the facilities are held an appropriate amount of time, as determined by a medical professional. Finally, law enforcement must be present and provided with the authority to enforce Public Health’s guidelines at each site.”