Two Whatcom residents test positive for coronavirus, Health Department says Wednesday
Two more Whatcom County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, according to information released Wednesday, March 25, by the Whatcom County Health Department.
The health department didn’t include information on the gender or age range of the new cases, saying on Monday that it would no longer provide those details because the number of confirmed cases has increased.
The newest numbers increase the total confirmed cases in Whatcom County to 66. Two people who tested positive have died.
The health department reported no increase in the number of tests that were returned negative, as that number remained at 336 Wednesday.
Over the weekend, the health department revealed that 32 residents and staff at Shuksan Healthcare Center in Bellingham, and one resident of Lynden Manor assisted living facility, had tested positive for the respiratory illness.
It is not yet known if the two new cases reported Wednesday are linked to the cluster of cases at Shuksan Healthcare Center.
More than 454,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 20,500 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has more than 61,000 confirmed cases, with at least 849 deaths.
Overall, the Washington State Department of Health reported 2,469 cases and 123 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon. Fifty percent of the deaths in the state have been from people 80 and older.
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 25, 2020 at 12:25 PM.
