LAKEWOOD -- The Department of Social and Health Services learned late yesterday, Monday, March 23, that a staff member at the Child Study and Treatment Center in Lakewood tested positive for COVID-19.
DSHS leadership is working with Tacoma-Pierce County Public Health on contact tracing. The staff member is being treated at a local hospital.
In response to this confirmed case of COVID-19, the Child Study and Treatment Center, which treats children between the ages of five to 17 years old who experience mental illness, continues following proper protocols for infectious diseases. All children who reside at the facility will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms several times a day and all staff will be screened prior to entering CSTC for their shifts. In addition, CSTC will limit movement of patients and minimize movements of staff between cottages at the facility as well.
All CSTC staff have been instructed to continue to self-screen for COVID-19.
No visitors are currently being allowed at the facility. Visitation was halted on Saturday, March 21. All visitors who have recently been to the facility are encouraged to monitor for symptoms of the virus and to contact their health care provider if they exhibit symptoms consistent with COVID-19 for further direction.
DSHS has been preparing for the possibility of COVID-19 infection at a state 24/7 facility, to include providing additional training to staff from infectious disease teams. The Child Study and Treatment Center, along with all other 24/7 facilities, continues to take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, including continuing increased disinfecting high-touch areas, decreasing non-essential travel of patients outside of the facilities and continuing screening of all visitors and staff at all facilities.
DSHS notified its employees of this situation overnight and provided them with additional resources on COVID-19.
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