If you’re sick and wondering if it’s coronavirus, here’s what to do in Whatcom County
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You’ve got a cough, fever and feel sick. Is it the new coronavirus? What should you do?
Stay home
Public health officials in Whatcom County and Washington state are asking people who have symptoms to stay away from public spaces — to avoid infecting others — as they grapple with a quickly evolving situation amid concerns that what’s now also being called the COVID-19 virus has been circulating in Washington state for weeks without being detected.
The number of confirmed cases in the state has climbed to 18 within a few days, with most of them in King County, as of Monday morning, March 2, and six people have died, according to monitoring data from the Washington State Department of Health.
Symptoms, which include fever, cough and shortness of breath, may appear two to 14 days after exposure.
No Whatcom County resident has tested positive for the virus, but public health officials have been telling people to be ready for that to change.
“While we still have no confirmed cases in Whatcom County, we are now seeing community spread of COVID-19 in the United States. Community spread means that there are cases for which the source of infection is unknown,” the Whatcom County Health Department said in its most recent briefing online over the weekend.
“Because we are beginning to see community spread, the risk of COVID-19 infection in Washington state is increasing, and we expect that the number of cases of COVID-19 in Washington state will grow,” the Whatcom County Health Department said.
Elected officials in Whatcom County will be briefed about preparations on Monday afternoon, March 2.
Public health officials have been telling residents what they can do to protect themselves and their families, and urging people to plan now should schools or child care centers be closed or they need to work remotely.
“It’s essential that we prepare now so that we can reduce the negative effects that we could see in Whatcom County,” health officials said.
Call before you go
If you have additional questions, call the Washington State Department of Health’s call center to answer the public’s questions. Call 1-800-525-0127 and press #.
The call center is fielding questions about what is happening in the state, how the virus spreads, and what to do if you have symptoms.
Bev Mayhew, spokeswoman for PeaceHealth St. Joseph in Whatcom County, also said patients should call the doctor or clinic first, provided you meet two criteria:
▪ You have recently traveled outside the U.S. or have been in contact with a person known to have COVID-19;
▪ You have symptoms including fever or upper respiratory infection symptoms, such as a cough.
“Our infection prevention team continues to work in lockstep with the Whatcom County Health Department implementing CDC-recommended testing protocol, isolation processes and procedures,” Mayhew said in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
As for whether you can be tested for the virus, Mayhew said that’s up to the Whatcom County Health Department.
Stay informed
▪ doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus
▪ www.whatcomcounty.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1617
▪ cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
This story was originally published March 2, 2020 at 12:25 PM.
