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 for coronavirus at a Seattle-area hospital. He has since been discharged and is recovering at home, according to the press release.
The man reportedly spent time in Jefferson and Clallam counties during the early stages of his illness. Potential contacts are being notified and advised about what precautions they should take, according to the press release.
There are now 79 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington, with a total of 11 deaths in the state.
According to Public Health, access to timely testing for COVID-19 is limited, but improving. The state’s health lab has a backlog of three days or longer for test results.
The test that confirmed Jefferson County’s first resident with COVID-19 was performed on a specimen submitted on March 2. On March 5, the University of Washington Laboratory began testing for COVID-19 and can perform a much higher volume of tests than the state’s health lab.
For most people, the symptoms of COVID-19 will be extremely mild, said Tom Locke, Jefferson County’s public health officer.
“This is a very infectious virus and it has such mild symptoms,” said Locke in an interview on March 2. “People who have it often don’t know it.”
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.
Jefferson County Public Health does not recommend anyone go to the emergency room unless it is absolutely essential.
Jefferson Healthcare released a similar statement on March 3.
“We are discouraging patients with mild respiratory and cold symptoms from seeking care at the Emergency Department prior to consulting with your primary care provider,” read the statement.
Jefferson Healthcare now has a dedicated COVID-19/Respiratory Illness Nurse Consult Line
at 360-344-3094 to answer specific questions regarding the virus and address exposure concerns.
The hospital is also exploring creating a dedicated space to evaluate patients with respiratory illness to provide testing for appropriate individuals.
Those infected with COVID-19 who do not need hospitalization are being 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.
For more information go to jeffersoncountypublichealth.
