SEATTLE (AP) – Officials say six people have now died from coronavirus in Washington state.

Dr. Jeff Duchin from Public Health – Seattle & King County announced the new deaths. Five people were from King County and one from Snohomish County. All died at a hospital in Kirkland, Washington.

Researchers have said the COVID-19 virus may have been circulating for weeks undetected in the state, and experts said more cases would likely be reported in Washington, Oregon and California as testing ramps up.

Meanwhile, a downtown Seattle skyscraper and about a dozen schools closed for cleaning over exposure fears.

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KOIN 6 News contributed to this report.