Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

If you have questions about COVID-19, call the Washington State Department of Health hotline at 1-800-525-0127 and press #.


2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Whatcom County

This information will be updated daily at 12:00 pm, or sooner if significant developments occur. Last updated: Thursday, March 12, 2020 11:47 am.

  • ^Pending Results:19
  • **Confirmed Cases: 1
  • *Negative Results: 18

^Pending Results: The current number of test results pending for people who meet the criteria for priority testing defined by Washington State Department of Health. It does not represent the total number of people in Whatcom County who have been tested for COVID-19 because some tests are sent directly to commercial labs by a healthcare provider without consultation with the health department.

** Confirmed Cases: Positive test results reported from any lab.

*Negative Results: Negative test results include test results for people under public health investigation for which all specimens submitted have been finalized.

What should I do if I’m sick?

Stay home when you are sick. Do not go out in public until your symptoms have resolved.

  • If you have cold or flu symptoms, especially cough or fever, it is important that you stay home and away from others. If you have questions about specific symptoms or care, contact your healthcare provider. Call ahead to your provider before going into a clinic or other health care facility.
  • For those who have symptoms like cough or shortness of breath, contacting your regular medical provider is the best thing to do unless you have an urgent need that requires immediate care. Most cough and cold illnesses can be cared for at home, with advice from a health care provider over the telephone if needed.
  • If you have symptoms and must go out in public, wear a mask. People who are sick with respiratory symptoms, like a cough or sneezing, should wear a mask in public places to prevent the spread of illnesses to others in the area.

Please do not go to emergency rooms or urgent care clinics if your illness is mild and can be managed at home. These facilities need to have the ability to serve those who are in most critical need. We also want to limit unnecessary visits to protect health care providers and other patients from catching infections.

These resources from the Washington State Department of Health have answers about possible exposures:


What should I do if I think I’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19?

  • Public health disease investigators do contact investigations to identify and communicate with individuals who have had close contact with a confirmed case.

  • Contact investigations include talking with the confirmed case about where they were during their infectious period and who they may have had contact with for more than 10 minutes in a space of less than 6 feet.

    • If you have been in close contact (within 6 ft) of a confirmed case, you should monitor your health for symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. 
    • If you are not sick, you should monitor your health for fever, cough and shortness of breath during the 14 days after the last day you were in close contact with the sick person with COVID-19. You should not go to work or school, and should avoid public places for 14 days. 
    • If you get sick with fever, cough or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are very mild), you should stay at home and away from other people. If you have any of the following conditions that may increase your risk for a serious infection —age 60 years or over, are pregnant, or have medical conditions—contact your physician’s office and tell them that you were exposed to someone with COVID-19. They may want to monitor your health more closely or test you for COVID-19.
  • Read the Washington State Department of Health’s What to do if you may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 (PDF).

Testing for COVID-19

Anyone can be tested for COVID-19. But not everyone needs to be tested for COVID-19. 

Healthcare providers may test any patient they suspect could have COVID-19. Call your health care provider, and they will talk with you about whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

Testing is a limited resource. That’s why it is important to prioritize testing for certain groups, including:

  • Health care workers.
  • Close contacts of people with confirmed COVID-19.
  • Patients with severe or worsening respiratory illness.
  • Those at high risk for severe illness.

There are not currently any specific medications for COVID-19, so whether you test positive or negative your healthcare provider’s advice for managing your symptoms will be the same. The majority of infections with novel coronavirus are mild and resolve without the need for supportive treatment. If you are able to manage your symptoms at home, you should stay home and avoid contacting others.

For more information about testing, visit the Washington State Department of Health testing webpage.


Additional Resources