The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Wahkiakum County Health & Human Services has announced the first positive test for covid-19 in an individual in the county. The person is in self-quarantine and currently does not require medical care.

H&HS is working with the individual to identify anyone who may have an exposure risk due to contact. Those people will be contacted by H&HS.

H&HS asks us to remember that “diseases don’t discriminate or stop at city, county, or international borders. Covid-19 may have originated abroad, but not everyone from parts of the world with increased risk has the disease or was potentially exposed to it,” and to “remember to rely on and share trusted sources of information about the outbreak, and avoid comments that unfairly label, harass, or spread misinformation.”

Find updated information on the novel coronavirus at Wahkiakumcovid19.com.

Here is the rest of the report from H&HS Director Chris Bischoff:

Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services (WHHS) has received a positive test result notification for COVID-19 in a Wahkiakum County resident. The individual is in self-quarantine and while symptomatic they do not require medical care currently.

We are working to identify anyone who may have an exposure risk because of contact with the person. Those people with close contact will be notified by Health and Human Services (WHHS) staff.

We have expected this. We have planned for this. We have coordinated with partner agencies to monitor for the disease in the county. WHHS works every day to identify, track, and follow up on cases of potential disease exposure to protect people’s health. The COVID-19 virus is new, but State, Federal, and WHHS public health response is not.

Frequently asked questions:

Am I at risk?

The current risk of COVID-19 in Washington is increasing. Public health is identifying 100s more positive cases of the disease in the state every day. We know that the disease is spreading in Washington from person to person. As we test more people, we expect to find more positive cases. People most at risk have these symptoms:

• Fever

• Cough

• Shortness of breath

If you think you were at risk of exposure to COVID-19, call ahead before you go to your healthcare provider, urgent care, or the emergency department.

What can I do to protect myself from COVID-19?

Currently, no vaccine exists for COVID-19. You can take steps to protect yourself and people around you from this and other diseases:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Avoid close contact with others.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.

• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.

• Stay at home and away from others as much as you can.

• The Governor issued an order to stay home, follow it.

It’s cold and flu season. These more common respiratory illnesses have affected our communities—especially the flu. The flu vaccine is your best protection against the flu.

What are coronaviruses?

Coronaviruses aren’t new. They form a large family of viral illnesses that includes the common cold. Experts have not previously identified the coronavirus in the current outbreak, COVID-19. We continue to learn more about it.

How do coronaviruses spread?

The most common ways human coronaviruses spread:

• Coughing and sneezing.

• Contact with a sick person—within six feet—for 10 minutes or more.

• Contact with an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands.

Diseases don’t discriminate.

The Health Department is your source for reliable local public health information, go to Wahkiakumcovid19.com for more information. Make sure you seek out and share accurate information related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Diseases don’t discriminate or stop at city, county, or international borders. COVID-19 may have originated abroad, but not everyone from parts of the world with increased risk has the disease or was potentially exposed to it. Remember to:

• Rely on and share trusted sources of information about the outbreak.

• Avoid comments that unfairly label, harass, or spread misinformation.

Find updated information about the novel coronavirus at Wahkiakumcovid19.com.