Washington state coronavirus cases top 100, including 16 deaths

KIRKLAND, Wash. -- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington state topped 100 on Saturday, including 16 deaths.

The Washington State Department of Health announced more than 20 new cases Saturday, saying a total of 102 people in the state have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. That figure did not include the first case in Kittitas County, which was also reported Saturday.

King County has now confirmed 71 cases, including 15 deaths, in what remains the nation's worst outbreak.

The two most recent deaths occurred on Friday, King County health officials said. One was a woman in her 70s, the other was a woman in her 80s.

Both were residents of Life Care Center of Kirkland, the nursing home that has been the epicenter of the outbreak and connected to 14 deaths.

In a press conference Saturday afternoon, Life Care spokesperson Tim Killian said 54 residents have been sent to various hospitals since Feb. 19, when the first known coronavirus patient was hospitalized.  A total of 18 residents have tested positive for COVID-19, Killian said.

Sixty-three residents remained at the facility as of Saturday and are confined to their rooms. Six are currently displaying symptoms of COVID-19.

Killian said that Life Care received 45 test kits on Thursday and had not had their own kits before then. The tests have not yet been completed, and the facility expects to receive more kits in the coming days, he said.

Life Care also received additional nurses and doctors Saturday to help assist existing staff members.

Jefferson, Pierce, Grant and Clark counties have also announced their first cases of COVID-19, and more than two dozen have been reported in Snohomish County.  One of the people diagnosed with the virus in Snohomish County died.

The Associated Press contributed to this report