6 people have now died from coronavirus disease in Washington state; King County buying a motel to house isolated patients

Four new cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2, were confirmed in King County today. Two of those have died. One previously reported coronavirus patient in King County also has died.

This brings the totals in King County to 14 cases of COVID-19, including five deaths, according to Public Health – Seattle & King County.

In addition, a patient from Snohomish County has died, bringing the total deaths in the state to six.

“We expect the number of cases to increase in the coming days and weeks,” said Jeff Duchin, health officer for the public health agency, who stressed that most cases will be mild. “We are taking this situation extremely seriously.”