• COVID-19 is a new respiratory virus with no vaccine or treatment. Most people will recover on their own, but some people can develop pneumonia and require medical care or hospitalization.

• Puget Sound public health agencies are identifying more positive cases of the disease in our region. The risk in our region is increasing. 

• COVID-19 is not connected to race, ethnicity or nationality. Stigma will not help to fight the illness. Misinformation can spread faster than diseases. Do your part to prevent this. Seek—and share—accurate information.

You should take these steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Make an emergency plan of action with your household members, relatives, and friends. Visit CDC’s Emergency Preparedness and You website for more information.

• Make sure you have food and basic supplies at home—the same kinds of things we always recommend people keep in stock in case of other emergencies like power outages or an earthquake.

• If the disease starts to spread in your area, health officials might recommend school closures, canceling events and encourage people to work from home to slow the spread of the disease.

• Make plans for alternative arrangements for your child or yourself in case school or university closes. Also make plans for your elders and your pets, as needed.

• Ask your employer about your sick leave and telework options if 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, like soap, tissues, and alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Talk to your health care provider, pharmacist or insurance provider if you or a household member regularly take prescription drugs and need a supply of medications at home.

Symptoms of COVID-19 primarily include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. These symptoms appear 2 to 14 days after exposure.

•  COVID-19 appears to spread when a sick person coughs or sneezes near others. Coughing and sneezing create droplets in the air that can cause disease if you breathe them in. The virus may spread before people show symptoms.

• Touching your nose, eyes, or mouth after being around someone sick with COVID-19 is also a possible but unlikely way to become infected. It may also spread by touching a surface or object with the virus on it.

Talk to your healthcare provider. He or she will be able to determine if you should be tested. If you suspect you have COVID-19 follow these steps to prevent the spread of disease:

People who are mild cases of COVID-19 can isolate at home during their illness. Restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Don’t go to work, school, or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

Stay in a specific room and away from other people and animals in your home. Use a separate bathroom, if available.

Monitor your symptoms.  

Seek prompt medical attention if your illness get worse. COVID-19 symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure:

• Fever.

• Cough.

• Shortness of breath.

If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider take steps to prevent exposure to other people.

Self-monitoring: A person monitors themselves for symptoms, including fever, and reports any symptoms to their local public health department. Public health checks in periodically during the monitoring period.

Active-monitoring: The local public health department contacts a person daily to monitor for symptoms, including fever, throughout the monitoring period.

Quarantine is the separation of a person possibly exposed to a disease but not yet sick to prevent the potential spread of disease to others.

Isolation is used to separate a currently ill person who can spread the disease to others.

Call your healthcare provider to discuss whether you should be tested for COVID-19 if:

• You have a fever, cough or shortness of breath AND
• You're at high risk for complications. Those at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 include:
  • People with weakened immune systems from medical conditions or medical treatment. 
  • Adults over age 60.
  • Pregnant women.

Where does testing happen?

Healthcare providers order the tests and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department approve them, based on whether a case meets CDC’s testing criteria. We don’t provide testing at the Health Department. The State Public Laboratory processes the test samples and reports results to us.

Who do you share the test results with?

People’s health information is protected under HIPAA. The Health Department provides results to the healthcare provider who is caring for the patient.  

What information will you share with the public?

We will report any positive test results on our website, with gender and age range. 

A fever is over 100.4 degrees F. If you have a fever, stay home and away from people.

Each disease investigation is unique. Currently, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department does not broadly recommend that organizations cancel public gatherings, keep people who are not sick home from work or close schools. As a part of its ongoing work to protect and improve the health of all people and places in Pierce County, the Health Department will provide specific guidance to any government entity, organization, business or school based on possible disease exposure risk, when a disease investigation warrants.

We want to protect our most vulnerable populations. Those at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 include:

• People with weakened immune systems from medical conditions or medical treatment. 
• Adults over age 60.
• Pregnant women.

If you are at a higher risk, we recommend you take extra measures to distance yourself from other people and stay at home. 

We recommend people with suspected COVID-19 cases be in their own room in a health care setting. Health care workers are trained to remove their personal protective equipment and wash their hands after seeing a patient, so the infection doesn’t leave the room.

Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily (e.g., tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles) with regular household detergent and water.

Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved products with emerging viral pathogens claims. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products.

Products will have the following claim:

This product demonstrates effectiveness against viruses like COVID-19 on hard non-porous surfaces. Therefore, this product can be used against COVID-19 when used in accordance with the directions for use against [name of supporting virus] on hard, non-porous surfaces.

Green products receive certification from a third party. Products will have a note on the label. DOH recommends green products but doesn’t require them.

These steps limit the spread of colds, the flus and other viruses:

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and wash your hands often with soap or water. Don’t share personal items. Clean frequently touched surfaces with soap and water.

• If you are sick, stay home. If you need medical care, wear a facemask and keep your distance from others. If someone in your house is sick, stay home to avoid spreading the virus to others.

If cases of COVID-19 in Pierce County increase, we would recommend other social distancing measures that may include steps such as:

• Don’t attend large events, like sporting events, conferences, or other community events if you are sick, 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 childcare facility or school if they are sick. Ask for classroom assignments or activities they can do from home.

• Keep sick household members in a separate room. Clean the room regularly and make sure they have clean disposable facemasks.

• 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.

COVID-19 is newly emerging virus, and we don’t yet have complete information about how it spreads.

Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets and have poor survivability on surfaces. But it may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

Food hasn't been identified as a likely source of COVID-19 spread at this time. However, food safety practices routinely performed at home and work can help reduce the spread of coronavirus and other respiratory viruses in our community.

When handling food use a barrier like tongs, gloves or other utensil to prevent direct hand contact with food. To help reduce illness wash, rinse, and sanitize tongs and other utensils in self-service areas often throughout the day.

No. We are not concerned that COVID-19 can live on surfaces for long periods of time. We don’t consider opening mail and packages from countries with confirmed COVID-19 cases a risk for getting sick.

Everyone should use proper hygiene and handwashing. Universities, schools, employers and others should promote this important disease prevention step to their community.

We recommend universities and schools with campus living facilities review plans and explore possible alternative housing arrangements (like campus buildings not currently in use, off- campus housing resources, etc.).

We advise organizations that host many people at once, like schools and event venues, to consider ways they can create social distancing in the event of a pandemic. This means possibly cancelling events or providing virtual options for learning.

Washington State Department of Health continues to work to contain COVID-19 spread. Currently the Public Health Laboratory in Shoreline can test up to 100 people per day.

We know we need to increase testing to keep up with community need. Washington State Department of Health partnered with the University of Washington Virology Lab to help test for COVID-19. DOH will continue to partner to increase their ability to test quicker.

Information from both labs go into the Washington Disease Reporting System (WDRS). This electronic disease surveillance system allows public health staff in Washington State to receive, enter, manage, process, track and analyze disease-related data.

Yes. Most health insurance plans will cover testing and treatment for medically-necessary services related to COVID-19. Commissioner Kreidler ordered all health plans his office regulates to waive copays and deductibles for people requiring testing for COVID-19.

Copays and deductibles will still apply if you need treatment. 

Currently, there is no vaccine for COVID-19 or other coronaviruses. NIH scientists are actively working to develop a vaccine.

We do not have  a designated care facility. People may receive care at the hospital or manage mild symptoms at home depending on their medical condition.

The Department’s Incident Management Team is tracking expenses. State and federal governments pay the costs.

Washington State Department of Health's call center can answer your questions. Call (800) 525-0127 and press #. You can also visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. You can also see the latest status in Washington at www.doh.wa.gov/coronavirus.

You can use Paid Family and Medical Leave if you are sick with Coronavirus and off work for an extended time.

On Wednesday, March 11, Gov. Inslee imposed restrictions on large gatherings in Pierce, King and Snohomish counties to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Read our blog on the restrictions we have in place for temporary food permits for large events. 

Yes, if you don't have any symptoms, and you have not had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the best thing for your health is to keep up with your regularly scheduled check-ups—medical, mental health, and dental.  

You have not been in contact with anyone known to be sick with COVID-19 within the last 14 days. Quarantine isn't necessary. Monitor your symptoms and stay home if you get sick.

Unfortunately, no. If you believe you were exposed and you didn’t get sick, you were lucky, not immune. Even if you were unlucky and got sick from COVID-19, you may still be able to get it again later.