First coronavirus case confirmed in Spokane County on Sunday

Health officials Sunday reported the first positive case of a Spokane County resident with the coronavirus.

The confirmed test was reported Sunday afternoon by the Washington Health Department. Dozens of county residents had been tested for the rapidly spreading virus that, as of Sunday, had resulted in the deaths of 18 Washingtonians, most of them residents of an elderly care center in Kirkland.

In total, 123 cases had been confirmed in the state as of Sunday. New cases were reported Sunday in Spokane and Kittitas counties. Cases have also been confirmed in King, Snohomish, Grant, Jefferson, Pierce and Clark counties.

Two new deaths from the virus had been reported as of Sunday in King County. Both of them were residents of Life Care Center of Kirkland. A man in his 90s and a woman in her 80s died late last week.

Health officials had said they anticipated the virus would make its way to Eastern Washington earlier in the week. A prior test of a person with ties to Gonzaga University had come back negative.

The Health Department reported tests of more than 1,200 residents, with 136 positive tests. The virus is being found mostly in older patients, with 79 cases found in patients ages 50 or older.

Spokane health officials encouraged residents last week to continue to take steps to avoid spreading the virus. That includes frequent hand washing, avoid touching your face and clean home and work surfaces thoroughly.

This story is developing and will be updated.