SEATTLE — Bacteria found in the water at Washington state’s largest psychiatric hospital means no one can take showers or wash hands, at a time when COVID-19 is on the rise.
At least 33 workers and eight staff have tested positive for the virus at Western State Hospital, and on Thursday officials notified staff that test results found E coli in the facility’s water.
“During a routine monthly testing, two buildings (not the entire water system) tested positive for bacteria,” said Kelly Von Holtz, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Services.
“One building tested positive for coliform bacteria and a second building tested positive for E. coli – the building that tested positive for coliform bacteria was retested and tested negative,” she said. “Neither of these buildings are patient buildings. One is a maintenance building and the other is a building where activities are held.”