The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) a pandemic. COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is infecting people and spreading easily from person-to-person. Cases have been detected in most countries worldwide and community spread is being detected in a growing number of countries
FAQs
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell.
Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who get COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.
People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
Where can I find more information about all the cases in the US?
You can find a detailed map with the spread of the cases here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html
What should I do if I am sick?
If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice.
You can read more about what the CDC recommends here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html
When was the first case of COVID-19 registered in the State of Washington?
On January 21, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Washington State Department of Health announced the first case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States in Washington State.
How does testing for COVID-19 work in Washington State?
COVID-19 testing is available at Washington State Public Health Laboratories (PHL) and several academic and clinical laboratories. Symptomatic persons in the following groups are high priority for testing:
- Healthcare worker or in a high priority occupation (e.g., public safety, fire fighter EMS)
- Part of an illness cluster in a facility or group (e.g., healthcare, school, corrections, business)
- A severe case of lower respiratory illness (hospitalized or fatal) without alternative diagnosis
- Patients with worsening symptoms
- Patients older than 60 years
- Patients with underlying medical conditions
- Pregnant women
- Anyone who had contact with a suspect or lab-confirmed COVID-19 patient, or who had travel from an affected geographic area, within 14 days of their symptom onset
Testing at PHL will be performed for the first 3 groups and upon specific request by a local health officer; all other testing should be performed at commercial labs.
Is there a public helpline to get more information?
The Washington State Department of Health has established a call center to address questions from the public. If you have questions about what is happening in Washington, or how the virus is spread, please call 1-800-525-0127. Phone lines are currently staffed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m, seven days a week.
Please note that this call center can not access COVID-19 testing results.
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