COVID-19
2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Jefferson County, WA
| Positives (confirmed cases) |
1 |
|---|---|
| Negative | 19 |
| Total Patients Tested |
56 |
If you think you’ve been exposed to the virus and have respiratory symptoms, use Jefferson Healthcare’s dedicated COVID-19/Respiratory Illness Nurse Consult Line 360.344.3094 as a first step.
Press Releases
COVID-19 Testing
Guidance around testing is somewhat complicated/confusing as more labs capable of testing come on line. In the beginning (and still for State Public Health Lab testing), Jefferson County Health Officer, Dr. Tom Locke, is required to approve testing requests following strict CDC Guidelines. Those guidelines have changed some over the weekend and he has adjusted his guidance accordingly. However, now that the University of Washington lab is now testing and we expect two private labs to begin testing this week and other private labs soon, providers can now make independent decisions about patients they believe need to be tested and Dr. Locke’s authorization is not needed. JCPH fully supports this change. JCPH will automatically receive positive test results from all of the labs approved for testing. While the recommendations for testing are still available to provide guidance to private providers, they are free to utilize their own professional judgement and knowledge of their patients to make their own decisions regarding testing. Only the State Lab requires Health Officer authorization to test/submit specimens. JCPH will be working with labs to provide us with the number of test results they have received from Jefferson County so that we have a denominator to go with the number of tests that come back positive. At least into the foreseeable future, we will be posting both number positive and number negative.
Board of County Commissioner Meetings with COVID-19 Updates
Starting Monday, March 16 at 9:45 a.m., Dr. Tom Locke, Public Health Officer for Jefferson County, will be giving regular public updates about COVID-19 during the County Commissioner’s weekly meetings. (If Dr. Locke has a conflict, Public Health will provide the briefing on his behalf). The COVID-19 Updates are live-streamed for viewing on the internet, and also are recorded for on-line viewing on demand anytime thereafter.
To see live or recorded videos of the Board of County Commissioners’ meeting including Dr. Locke’s 9:45 a.m. update, go to www.co.jefferson.wa.us and click on “Videos of Meetings” on the lower left side of the screen. Choose “Streaming Live” or “Recorded.”
Exposure Concerns?
Resources & Recommendations
- WA State Department of Health: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus
- Other counties
- King County: kingcounty.gov/COVID
- Kitsap County: https://kitsappublichealth.org/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov
- For general questions about COVID-19 or Washington State’s response, please call the Washington State Novel Coronavirus Call Center at 800-525-0127.
- Printable COVID-19 Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Workplace and Employers
- Including when employees should get tested
- Communities and Community Organizations
- Persons Who are at Higher Risk for Serious Illness
- Senior Centers
- Resources for Healthcare Providers
- Resources for long term care providers
- Resources for schools
Press Releases
When to seek medical evaluation and advice
If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, call your healthcare provider. Isolate yourself and wear a mask before leaving the house. Do not go to the emergency room. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs.
If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.