YAKIMA, RENTAR. – Health officials said this week that 145 workers have tested positive for COVID-19 at a Costco store near Yakima, but the store remains open while the Yakima health district investigates.
Infected workers are in quarantine, the Union Gap store is conducting tests throughout the site and more cases are expected to be reported, the Yakima Herald-Republic reports. The health district said in a statement that it will continue to monitor the outbreak that began before Christmas, when 68 workers tested positive for the virus.
Yakima County commissioners issued a statement this week saying they agreed to keep the store open, but harshly criticized Governor Jay Inslee’s orders to curb the spread of the virus, which affects small businesses, schools and churches. .
“Our local Costco store can remain open safely despite a known outbreak, and yet our schools, restaurants, gyms, theaters and other businesses cannot,” the commissioners said.
Commissioners approved a proclamation earlier this month calling on Inslee to give more voice to local authorities in managing the coronavirus pandemic.
As cases began to rise in November, Inslee ordered new shutdowns on Nov. 15 for restaurants, theaters and gyms. It has extended the restrictions until January 11th.
Yakima County has surpassed 20,000 COVID-19 cases in total this week. The death toll in the county since mid-March is close to 300.