You can go to work if you don't have symptoms. You should:

• Monitor yourself for symptoms.
• Practice social distancing.
• Stay home if you develop any symptoms.
• Wash your hands.

Each disease investigation is unique. When appropriate, the Health Department provides specific guidance to organizations, businesses, schools and government officials based on possible disease exposure risk.

As part of the investigation process, the Health Department notifies close contacts of a confirmed case.

We currently recommend that only close contacts of a confirmed case, or people experiencing symptoms, should stay 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.

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. 

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.

Contact your healthcare provider. More labs are processing tests and most healthcare providers can provide testing. The Health Department does not provide testing.

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. 

As part of the investigation process, the Health Department notifies close contacts of a confirmed case.

Your employee generally needs to be in close contact with a sick person to get infected. Close contact includes:

• Living in the same household as a sick person with COVID-19,
• Caring for a sick person with COVID-19
• Being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for about 10 minutes, OR
• Being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.)

See our video to learn more about what we mean by close contact.

Each disease investigation is unique. When appropriate, the Health Department provides specific guidance to organizations, businesses, schools and government officials based on possible disease exposure risk.

We currently recommend that only close contacts of a confirmed case, or people experiencing symptoms, should stay home.

The rest of your employees can go to work if they don’t have symptoms. All staff should:

• Monitor themselves for symptoms.
• Practice social distancing.
• Stay home if they develop any symptoms.
• Wash their hands.