YAKIMA, WASH. – Health officials said this week that 145 workers tested positive for COVID-19 at a Costco store near Yakima, but the store remains open as long as the Yakima health district investigates.
Infected workers are quarantined, the store in Union Gap is conducting tests across the site and more cases are to be reported, reported the Yakima Herald-Republic. The health district said in a press release 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 strongly criticized Governor Jay Inslee’s orders to reduce the spread of the virus, which has affected small businesses, schools and churches.
“Our local Costco store can safely remain open despite a known outbreak, but our schools, restaurants, gyms, theaters and other businesses cannot,” said the commissioners.
Commissioners approved a proclamation earlier this month calling on Inslee to give local authorities more voice in managing the coronavirus pandemic.
As cases began to rise in November, Inslee ordered further closures on November 15 for restaurants, theaters and gyms. He extended the restrictions until January 11.
Yakima County has exceeded 20,000 total cases of COVID-19 this week. The death toll in the county since mid-March is approaching 300.