COVID-19 case in La Conner

Ken Stern and Bill Reynolds | Mar 18, 20200

A person who has tested positive for COVID-19 is at home in self-isolation in greater La Conner and taking a 14 day quarantine, as are those exposed to the sick person, reliable sources have told the Weekly News.

But Skagit County Public Health Director Jennifer Johnson told the Weekly News that she can’t confirm whether a La Conner area resident has received a diagnosis for COVID-19.

“There is information that isn’t made public, even to me,” she said Tuesday afternoon. “So I am not aware if there is a confirmed diagnosis.”

Johnson advised the public to continue following health guidelines outlined since the outbreak of coronavirus. Those include social distancing, staying home when ill, and thorough hand-washing.

Skagit County has seven cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Skagit County Public Health reported on its website Monday, up from four last week. The three new cases have ongoing investigations for the male in his 70s, female, 60s and male, 40s. The four people with the virus from last week are all in home isolation: a female in her 40s, female, 30s, male 20s, and male, 30s who is home after hospitalization.

At press time there were 48 deaths and 904 cases statewide. Forty-three deaths and 488 cases are in King County, the Washington Department of Health reports.

The Skagit County Public Health website: https://www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/HealthDiseases/coronavirus.htm#B.

COVID-19: It takes a town

Dorothy Downes

We have been asked by CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and our Skagit County Health Department to be a really important part of mitigating the community-based spread of COVID-19. We have been asked in order to be protected and to ease the potential overload on existing hospital-based treatment settings and potential limits on medical supplies. Feeling secure in response and with each other will come when we draw together to slow the spread of COVID-19. Here is a summary of the ideas I am reading:

The absolute best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to avoid exposure; this is why there is a serious CDC recommendation that you stay six feet apart from others. This applies at Pioneer Market check-out, at the post office or in any line. If you pick up take-out food to support our wonderful restaurants, you might pick-up your food from a designated place, six feet apart from others.

Do not assume anyone is well or sick. Most likely your friends are well. But, COVID-19 may be conveyed inadvertently, it takes 2-14 days after exposure to become clinically recognizable. The virus spreads person-to-person, by droplet or by your introduction of a surface COVID virus to your nose, mouth or eyes.

Hand-washing serves as our community-based personal protective measure. Hand-washing remains critical and is recommended as you enter or leave a new place, after touching a hard surface and, as always, before preparing or placing food in your mouth. Reminder, sing Happy Birthday twice when washing with running water.

Seventy percent alcohol-based sanitizer hand gel can be used too but may become in short supply. If used, rub your hands until it dries completely.

Do not share any public keyboard. Wash your hands after you touch any faucet, door handle, a bathroom handle etc. – any shared public surface. As tough as the challenge is, do not touch your nose, eyes or mouth unless your hands are immaculate.

Cover your mouth with a raised elbow and do not elbow bump. If you have COVID-19 wear a mask to protect others from your infectious droplets.

Clean surfaces with five tablespoons of bleach in a gallon of water or use a commercial cleaner. The COVID-19 virus can last on hard surfaces for 2-4 days and some sources suggest longer.

Secure 30 days of your prescriptive medications to preserve your wellness and to limit your future exposure to others.

Avoid in-person gatherings; CDC recommends that no gathering should be more than ten people. The longer or larger the gathering the greater the risk of exposure. Help others adapt to disruptions in routines like work or school. I am loving those facebook posts about people willing to help.

Testing is under the aegis of a health care provider; contact yours by phone if you have an elevated body temperature over 101, a cough or shortness of breath. Symptoms can worsen in the course of the illness, requiring you to seek emergency care but early recognition is possible.

Dorothy Downes, RN, MSW, MPA, a community member, worked for CDC researching the transmission of communicable disease