Officials prepare for spread of virus

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Note: Information in this article is not up to date with the most recent numbers in Jefferson County. Click here to view the more recent coverage. 

The Washington State Public Health Lab confirmed the first case of a Jefferson County resident with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, on March 6, but public health officials do not believe the case represents evidence of community-level transmission on the Olympic Peninsula.

The patient is a Jefferson County man in his 60s, according to a press release from Jefferson County Public Health. He was likely exposed to the virus during a visit to a family member in Kirkland. The man received care at the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System in Seattle.

“This person is home and in isolation, but largely recovered,” said Tom Locke, the public health officer for Jefferson County Public Health.

There are now 162 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington, with a total of 22 deaths in the state as of March 10.

Jefferson Healthcare has opened a special respiratory evaluation clinic to evaluate people who have fevers and flu-like symptoms, according to Locke. The hospital has the ability to take swabs and send samples to the University of Washington’s testing lab to see if a patient has the coronavirus.

“They’ve already sent off a bunch of tests,” Locke said. “Six came back negative today. We are waiting for the results of 16 more tests.”

According to Locke, the UW testing lab is not backed up. Results to tests are phoned to health officials in Jefferson County in about 24 hours.

The only limiting factors to the testing would be the number of staff at the UW facility and the testing machines themselves, which can only test so many specimens at a time.

Individuals who may have respiratory symptoms such as a cough or trouble breathing as well as a fever and other flu-like symptoms should call the Jefferson Healthcare’s COVID-19 hotline, at 360-344-3094. Symptoms will be evaluated over the phone first, and then an appointment could be set up to come into the hospital for testing.

Jefferson County Public Health does not recommend anyone go to the emergency room unless it is absolutely essential.

“We don’t want to test the ‘worried well,’” Locke said. “And we don’t want a waiting room full of people waiting to be tested.”

Public Health prioritizes protecting those who are at greatest risk of COVID-19 complications, such as people over the age of 60, pregnant women, and those with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes.

“We want to protect everyone, but our highest priorities are protecting the vulnerable in the community,” Locke said.

Those infected with COVID-19 who do not need hospitalization will be isolated in their homes for the duration of their illness, according to Public Health. Individuals who have had significant exposures to confirmed COVID-19 cases during the infectious period are being placed in a modified home quarantine for 14 days after their last exposure. These people should not go to work or school and should avoid public places for the duration of their quarantine. If illness does not develop in this two-week period, infection is highly unlikely.

Locke said the spread of the virus on the Olympic Peninsula is inevitable, although there is no evidence of a community-spread yet.

“As we do more and more tests, we’re prepared for the fact that we could get other positive samples,” Locke said. “This should not panic people. It’s what we expect to happen.”

The virus is too contagious and has symptoms too mild to prevent spread, he said. But taking precautions like staying home when you are sick, washing your hands, and avoiding touching your face is one way to prevent spreading the virus.

As events develop, the Public Health department will keep their website updated with data on how many people have been tested and the results of those tests, as well as best practices.

Go to jeffersoncountypublichealth.org for more information.