19 Whatcom residents test positive for coronavirus, health department says Tuesday
Nineteen more Whatcom County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, the new coronavirus, according to information released Tuesday by the Whatcom County Health Department.
The newest numbers increase the total confirmed cases in Whatcom County to 139. Seven people who tested positive have died, but no new deaths were included in the latest numbers.
The number of confirmed cases in Whatcom County is up from 120 as of Monday, when the county reported four new cases.
More than 826,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 40,700 deaths as of Tuesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has more than 174,400 confirmed cases — the most reported cases of any nation — with at least 3,416 deaths.
Overall, the Washington State Department of Health reported 4,896 cases and 195 deaths as of Saturday night. The state did not update its statistics on Sunday or Monday.
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.
