Man awaiting COVID-19 test results walks away from King County's Kent motel
komonews.com/news/coronavirus/man-awaiting-covid-19-test-results-walks-away-from-king-countys-kent-motel
KENT, Wash. – A homeless man who was using a King County-owned motel in Kent for isolation while he awaited test results on COVID-19 walked away from the facility Friday morning, against a guard's orders, prompting concern and anger from local officials when they learned about the incident.
The man had accepted a room at the former Econolodge Thursday that is currently intended for use for isolation and quarantine, according to officials. But on Friday morning around 7:30 a.m., the man walked out of the hotel ignoring a security guard's instruction to stay, and headed to a convenience store across Central Avenue, officials said.
There, the man allegedly shoplifted a doughnut then jumped on a northbound Route 153 Metro bus, officials said.
Late Friday, county officials said the man's COVID-19 tests came back negative but the bus was cleaned and disinfected after Metro officials learned about what happened.
Upon the discovery, county officials took the bus out of service for cleaning and sanitation. The county did not say if they had found the man.
Kent city officials were furious.
>The City Of Kent Oppossed use of this motel
King County judge blocks Kent restraining order over planned virus quarantine motel
komonews.com/news/coronavirus/city-of-kent-files-legal-action-over-planned-virus-quarantine-motel