Whatcom Health Department Sunday update includes five new cases of coronavirus
Five new cases of COVID-19, the new coronavirus, were announced Sunday afternoon, March 22, by the Whatcom County Health Department.
They are listed as:
▪ Female in her 70s.
▪ Male in his 30s.
▪ Male in his 50s.
▪ Male in his 30s.
▪ Female in her 80s.
On Saturday, March 21, the health department announced the second death in Whatcom County from the disease.
A man in his 80s died at home Friday, March 20. He was tested before he died and his test results came back positive Saturday morning, according to Whatcom Unified Command.
The death of a man in his 60s was announced late Thursday, March 19.
Twelve others have tested positive in Whatcom County, including three residents of Shuksan Healthcare Center, 1530 James St.
All three residents are being cared for at Shuksan, Cindy Hollinsworth, Communicable Disease and Epidemiology manager for the health department, said at a Whatcom Unified Command news conference Saturday.
Whatcom County now has a total of 19 cases, including two deaths.
More than 328,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 14,350 deaths as of Sunday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has more than 31,000 confirmed cases, with at least 364 deaths.
President Donald J. Trump declared Sunday that a major disaster exists in the State of Washington and “ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic beginning on January 20, 2020, and continuing,” according to a release from the White House Press Office.
It stated the action makes federal funding available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for “emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all areas in the State of Washington impacted by COVID-19.”
“We appreciate that the federal government has recognized the severity of the public health emergency in Washington state by declaring a major disaster and taking the first step toward additional assistance for Washingtonians,” Inslee said in a press release Sunday. “However, today’s declaration does not unlock many forms of federal assistance we have requested to help workers and families who are badly hurting. We will continue working with our federal partners to deliver the full suite of disaster assistance that is sorely needed in our state, such as expanded unemployment benefits for workers who lose their paychecks as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.”
The state press release said Trump’s declaration “grants the state’s request for assistance with crisis counseling and training to address the impact of the outbreak on the mental health of affected Washingtonians. Other disaster assistance programs requested in Inslee’s letter remain under review by the White House, including expanded unemployment assistance and basic food benefits.”
The Washington State Department of Health reported 95 deaths and 1,793 confirmed cases in the state as of Sunday at 3 p.m.
The state health department’s website is directing people to an online coronavirus assessment tool developed by Providence and Microsoft.
Elsewhere, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources announced all state campgrounds across Washington are closed through April 30 to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.
No new campers will be allowed beginning Monday, March 23, according to a news release from Washington State Parks. “Current campers will be phased out following instructions from land officials,” the release stated.
“Day use areas and trails remain open. Due to the volume of people visiting Washington’s ocean beaches, we are asking the public to avoid those areas,” it continued.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
COVID-19, the new coronavirus, is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2.
The disease is spread through contact between people within six feet of each other, especially through coughing and sneezing that expels respiratory droplets that land in the mouths or noses of people nearby.
Although most of the cases have been mild, the disease is especially dangerous for the elderly and others with weaker immune systems.
Click the drop-down icon in the upper right of this card for more information on symptoms and how to stop its spread.
What you can do
Here’s what you can do to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, according to the Whatcom County Health Department.
▪ Keep six feet between yourself and others when in public.
▪ Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
▪ Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth with hands that haven’t been washed.
▪ Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, throw the tissue in the trash and then wash your hands.
▪ Stay home if you feel sick. Avoid others who are sick.
▪ If your symptoms are severe and require medical care, call your doctor first.
This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 12:32 PM.
