Photos from the heart of the first U.S. coronavirus outbreak
An unidentified patient is transported to the hospital from the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state, on Monday, March 2, 2020, in Kirkland. It is unclear if the patient is suspected of having coronavirus.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
I’ve spent much of the last two weeks at the epicenter of the first coronavirus outbreak in the U.S.
Journalists, both local and national, have gathered outside of the Life Care Center of Kirkland nursing home.
They have witnessed family members knocking on the windows of their loved ones.
“It’s kind of tough but it’s the best we can do at this point,” said Charlie Campbell, who traveled from Silver City, New Mexico, to bring his mother Dorothy to see his father Gene through a pane of glass.
They have watched as residents were wheeled out of the long-term care facility into ambulances on stretcher, after stretcher, after stretcher.
And as community members like Tricia LaVoice arrived to show their support.
"Love really is a big part of healing," LaVoice said, as she tied blue ribbons and flowers to trees that she hoped the remaining residents would appreciate seeing from their windows.
As of this writing, on Friday, March 13, there have been 37 COVID-19 related deaths in Washington state. A number that will certainly rise. Below are some of the moments that I witnessed at the scene of the first coronavirus outbreak in the United States.
Members of a Servpro cleaning crew line up before entering the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state, on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Kirkland.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
A member of a Servpro cleaning crew removes a protective face mask after exiting the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state, on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Kirkland.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Blue ribbons and flowers are tied around trees outside of the Life Care Center of Kirkland on Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Kirkland. Community member Tricia LaVoice tied them there to show the residents of the long-term care facility that the community cares. "Love really is a big part of healing," LaVoice said.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Dorothy Campbell sits in her son, Charlie Campbell's vehicle, after knocking on her husband, Gene Campbell's window at Life Care Center of Kirkland and speaking to him through the phone, on Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Kirkland. Charlie Campbell came all the way from Silver City, New Mexico, to take his mother to see his father.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Pat Herrick holds a picture of her 89-year-old mother, Elaine Herrick, at the Life Care Center of Kirkland on Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Kirkland. Elaine Herrick had died early Thursday morning while in the care of Life Care Center amid a deadly COVID-19 outbreak. Seven hours after learning of her mother's death, Pat Herrick received a call from Life Care: her mother was doing great. She had no fever and was showing no symptoms of COVID-19. Herrick alerted them of her mother's death.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Dorothy Campbell talks to her husband, Gene Campbell, on the phone through his window at the Life Care Center of Kirkland on Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Kirkland. Dorothy's son Charlie Campbell came all the way from Silver City, New Mexico, to bring his mother to see his father. "It’s kind of tough but it’s the best we can do at this point," he said.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Members of a Servpro cleaning crew look out of a window before taking a break from cleaning the interior of the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state, on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Kirkland.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
A woman waves after knocking on her mother's window at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state, on Monday, March 2, 2020, in Kirkland.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
A member of a Servpro cleaning crew stands in line before entering the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state, on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Kirkland.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
First responders and members of the Kirkland Fire Department arrive at the Life Care Center of Kirkland to transport a resident to the hospital on Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Kirkland.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Tricia LaVoice, of Kirkland, ties blue ribbons and flowers to trees outside of the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state, on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Kirkland. "Just trying to show them that the community cares," LaVoice said. "Love really is a big part of healing."
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Tim Killian, a public liaison for the Life Care Center of Kirkland, is shown through the viewfinder of a video camera while speaking to the press outside of the long-term care facility on Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Kirkland.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Members of the Kirkland Fire Department arrive at the Life Care Center of Kirkland on Monday, March 2, 2020, to transport a patient to the hospital.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Lori Spencer touches the glass of her mother Judie Shape's window while saying goodbye at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state, on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Kirkland.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
A health worker talks with Susan Hailey, 76, in her room at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, on Friday, March 13, 2020, in Kirkland.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
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Megan Farmer
Visual Journalist & Editor
Megan Farmer joined KUOW Public Radio as a visual journalist in 2017.
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