50 new cases of COVID-19 reported at Life Care Center of South Hill

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PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — Life Care Center’s South Hill location reported 50 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday.

Spokesman Tim Killian said 23 of the center's 31 residents tested positive, and there was one COVID-19-related death.

Twenty-seven of its staff members tested positive also.

According to health officials, the cases started increasing after the county moved to phase 2 of the state’s Safe Start plan to reopen businesses.

This comes after the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department reported there was a sharp rise in cases for the county.

“Things are not looking good for us,” said department director Dr. Anthony Chen. “Over the weekend, on Saturday, we recorded our highest daily case count at 121.”