Novel coronavirus

Novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a new respiratory disease first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in several countries, including the United States.

Clark County Public Health announced the first local case of COVID-19 on Friday, March 6.

The vast majority of the illnesses around the world are mild, with fever and cough. A much smaller percentage of cases are severe and involve pneumonia, particularly in elderly people and people with underlying medical conditions.

For the latest information on cases in the U.S., visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. For the latest information on cases in the state, visit the Washington State Department of Health website.

Public Health recommendations

Clark County Public Health issued recommendations for large gatherings on March 12. Public Health recommended the cancellation of large gatherings of more than 250 people in order to minimize the potential health impacts of COVID-19.

The Public Health recommendations apply to planned or spontaneous gatherings of 250 people or more, including concerts, festivals, conferences, conventions, worship services, sporting events and other similar events or activities. The recommendations do not apply to school attendance, businesses, grocery and retail stores.

Clark County Public Health issued recommendations for populations at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 on March 11.

Public Health is recommending – but not requiring – that people at higher risk stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible. This includes large public gatherings where there will be close contact with others, such as conventions, sporting events and concerts.

People at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 include people: call center

older than 60.
who have serious chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and lung disease.
who have weakened immune systems.

Anyone who has questions about whether their condition puts them at risk for COVID-19 should consult their health care provider.

Public Health is not recommending restrictions on public events or gatherings at this time. As the situation evolves, Public Health recommendations may change.

Everyday practices to prevent colds, influenza and other respiratory illnesses can also protect people against coronaviruses, including COVID-19. Clark County Public Health recommends people take the following actions to keep themselves healthy:

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
Stay home and away from others when sick.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.

Public Health response

Clark County Public Health announced the first local case of COVID-19 on Friday, March 6. The case, a male in his 70s, was in isolation pending test results. He is currently hospitalized and remains in isolation.

Public Health identified a small number of people who had close contact with the case. Those individuals have been notified and are now in quarantine, where they will remain for 14 days.

Unlike with confirmed measles cases, Public Health is not announcing public locations the COVID-19 case visited. COVID-19 is spread through close contact (within 6 feet) and via respiratory droplets when someone coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza spreads. It is not spread the same way as measles, which is airborne and can linger in the air for several hours. For this reason, listing places where a person with COVID-19 has been is not effective. Without close contact with an infected person, you are at extremely low risk of contracting COVID-19.

Health care providers can use their discretion to determine who should be tested for COVID-19. People who may be ill with COVID-19 are considered persons under investigation while test results are pending.

Here is the latest information about specimens sent to the state public health lab for testing:

Number of positive tests	1
Number of negative tests*	13
Number of persons under investigation (test results pending)*	10
Number of people under Public Health supervision (recent travelers)**	3

Numbers updated 10 am March 12.

*Providers have the ability to send specimens directly to the University of Washington lab for testing. The number of negative tests and pending tests in the above table do not account for those tests being conducted by UW. The number of positive tests reflects all positive test results, regardless of where testing was done.

**Recent travelers are residents who recently returned to the U.S. after traveling to China. These are people who are not currently sick, but who are asked to remain home for 14 days as a precaution.

Additional resources

Washington State Department of Health call center: 1.800.525.0127
Washington State Department of Health novel coronavirus outbreak webpage
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention coronavirus disease 2019 website
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention information for travel webpage
Novel coronavirus fact sheet: English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese (traditional), Thai, Korean

Parents and caretakers

Washington State Department of Health resources for parents/caretakers
Just for Kids: A comic exploring the new coronavirus (NPR)

Schools and child care centers

Washington State Department of Health recommendations for schools and child care facilities
Washington State Department of Health school resources webpage
Washington State Department of Health higher education resources webpage
Washington State Department of Health child care resources webpage
Just for Kids: A comic exploring the new coronavirus (NPR)

Businesses and employers

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention interim guidance for businesses and employers
Washington State Department of Health workplace and employer recommendations

Health care providers, clinics and hospitals

Clark County Public Health provider advisories
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention information for healthcare professionals
Washington State Department of Health resources for healthcare providers

Long term care facilities

Washington State Department of Health resources for long term care facilities
Washington State Department of Health recommendations for adult family homes
Washington State Department of Health recommendations for assisted living facilities

Communities and community organizations

Washington State Department of Health communities and community organizations resources webpage
Washington State Department of Health guidance for public gatherings and events

Homeless service providers

Washington State Department of Health recommendations for homeless shelter facilities

Emergency medical services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention interim guidance for EMS services

Frequently Asked Questions

What is COVID-19?

Novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a new respiratory disease first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. COVID-19 is part of a larger family of coronaviruses, some of which are normally circulating in the community and can cause illnesses like the common cold.

How does coronavirus spread?

We are still learning about COVID-19, including how it spreads. Current understanding about how COVID-19 spreads is largely based on what is known about similar coronaviruses.

Coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:

The air by coughing and sneezing
Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands
Rarely, fecal contamination with coronavirus present

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

For confirmed COVID-19 cases, illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. Symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. If you have been in China within the last two weeks and develop symptoms, call your health care provider.

What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms?

If you have any of the conditions that may increase your risk for a serious viral infection—age 60 years or over, are pregnant, or have medical conditions—call your physician’s office and ask if you need to be evaluated in person.

If you do not have a high-risk condition and your symptoms are mild, you do not need to be evaluated in person and do not need to be tested for COVID-19.

Here is additional guidance for people who have or think they have COVID-19:

How can people protect themselves from coronavirus?

There are steps people should take to reduce their risk of getting and spreading any viral respiratory infections. These include:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
Stay home and away from others when sick.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.

What is the treatment for COVID-19?

There is no specific treatment for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 can receive supportive care from hospitals to help relieve symptoms.

Is it safe to travel?

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the latest COVID-19 information for travelers.

Should I wear a mask when I go out in public?

Public Health is not recommending that people wear masks when they are in public. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend that people who are well wear face masks to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.

Masks can be useful in some settings to prevent someone who has a respiratory illness from spreading it to others. That’s why we recommend that people who are sick put a mask on if they are waiting in a clinic.

How do I plan ahead for COVID-19?

Make an emergency plan of action with your household members, relatives, and friends. Visit Emergency Preparedness and You (on the CDC website) for more information.
If the disease starts spreading in our area, we might recommend to close schools or cancel events and encourage people to work remotely to slow the spread of the disease.
Make plans for alternative arrangements for your child or yourself in the case of a school dismissal or shutdown. Also make plans for your elders and your pets, as needed.
Check in with your work about your sick leave and telework options, should you need to stay home to care for a household member.
Make a list of your emergency contacts — family, friends, neighbors, carpool drivers, health care providers, teachers, employers, local public health department, and community resources.
Gather extra supplies, such as soap, tissues, and alcohol-based hand sanitizer. If you or one of your household members have a chronic condition and regularly take prescription drugs, talk to your health provider, pharmacist, and insurance provider about keeping an emergency supply of medications at home.

What should I do if COVID-19 starts spreading in Clark County?

Stay informed about COVID-19 activity in Clark County on Public Health's novel coronavirus webpage and activity in the state through the Washington State Department of Health website.
Avoid contact with people who are sick. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and wash your hands often with soap or water. Don’t share personal items and clean frequently touched surfaces with soap and water.
If you are sick, stay home. When seeking medical care, wear a face mask and keep your distance from others. If someone in your house is sick, stay home to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus to others.
Do not attend large events, such as sporting events, conferences, or other community events if you are sick, do not feel well, or someone in your home is sick. If you aren’t sick, consider your risk of getting COVID-19 at the event before you go.
Discourage your children from gathering with others after school unless it is a small group. If any of the children show symptoms of COVID-19, separate them from others immediately.
Watch your children for symptoms of COVID-19. Notify your children’s child care facility or school if they are sick and get any classroom assignments or activities they can do from home.
Set up a separate room for sick household members. Clean the room regularly and make sure they have clean disposable face masks to use.
Check in with family and friends who live alone — especially those with chronic diseases. If you live alone, ask your friends and family to check in with you if you become sick.

How can I help reduce stigma associated with COVID-19?

While COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China, the disease is not specific to any ethnic group or national origin. The risk of infection is based on exposure to disease, such as through travel to an area where the disease is occurring, and not on race, ethnicity or where someone was born. Viruses do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender or birthplace.

You can help to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with a disease outbreak by doing the following:

Speak up if you hear, see or read stigmatizing or harassing comments or misinformation.
Show compassion and support for individuals and communities most closely impacted and anyone who might be sick.
Do not make assumptions about someone’s health status based on their ethnicity, race or national origin.
Share accurate information. Rely on trusted sources of information about the causes of outbreaks from reputable sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Washington State Department of Health.