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Whatcom County officials are seeking federal reimbursement for $1.34 million for an isolation/quarantine site at the Bellingham Motel 6 for people infected with the new coronavirus, according to a county document obtained by The Bellingham Herald.

“There are key populations requiring non-congregate sheltering during this immediate response to protect public health; these include but are not limited to: first responders, the general public, travelers and those who are currently unhoused,” according to a letter from John Gargett, deputy director of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, to Washington state’s representative to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Gargett is also an incident commander at Whatcom Unified Command, the multi-governmental agency directing local efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic.