Two county residents test positive for covid-19

As of Tuesday night, two Wahkiakum County residents have tested postive for covid-19.

The first positive test was taken locally, with the results posting on Friday. The individual is in self-quarantine as of Friday and did not require medical care. The second positive test was taken out of the county, with results posting on Saturday. That individual had mild symptoms and was also in self quarantine.

The two cases are not related.

According to the Washington Department of Health website, 16 tests have been conducted in the county as of April 3.

Because of the size of the county and privacy concerns, Wahkiakum Health and Human Services Director Chris Bischoff has chosen not to provide any information regarding gender, age, or location.

Following standard procedure, both individuals have been thoroughly questioned by Wahkiakum Public Health Nurse Danelle Barlow to determine if anyone may have risked exposure due to close contact.

After the investigation, H&HS will notify anyone who has been determined to have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive. According to Bischoff, close contact is defined as being within six feet of another person for more than 10 minutes.

If you have not been notified, you have not been in close contact, Bischoff has emphasized.

Health department personnel continue to practice social distancing. Even people who are not showing any symptoms could be carrying covid-19.

H&HS asks people to remember that “diseases don’t discriminate or stop at city, county, or international borders. Covid-19 may have originated abroad, but not everyone from parts of the world with increased risk has the disease or was potentially exposed to it,” and to “remember to rely on and share trusted sources of information about the outbreak, and avoid comments that unfairly label, harass, or spread misinformation.”

Here is more information from the H&HS press release on Friday:

"We have expected this. We have planned for this. We have coordinated with partner agencies to monitor for the disease in the county. WHHS works every day to identify, track, and follow up on cases of potential disease exposure to protect people’s health. The COVID-19 virus is new, but state, federal, and WHHS public health response is not.”

See the health department website, wahkiakumcovid19.com, for answers to frequently asked questions.

To protect onself from COVID-19:

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Avoid close contact with others.

• Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.

• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.

• Stay at home and away from others as much as you can.

• The governor issued an order to stay home; follow it.

It’s cold and flu season. The flu vaccine is the best protection against the flu.

What are coronaviruses?

Coronaviruses aren’t new. They form a large family of viral illnesses that includes the common cold. Experts have not previously identified the coronavirus in the current outbreak, COVID-19. We continue to learn more about it.

How do coronaviruses spread?

The most common ways human coronaviruses spread:

• Coughing and sneezing.

• Contact with a sick person—within six feet—for 10 minutes or more.

• Contact with an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands.

Diseases don’t discriminate.

The Health Department is your source for reliable local public health information, go to Wahkiakumcovid19.com for more information. Make sure you seek out and share accurate information related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Diseases don’t discriminate or stop at city, county, or international borders. COVID-19 may have originated abroad, but not everyone from parts of the world with increased risk has the disease or was potentially exposed to it. Remember to:

• Rely on and share trusted sources of information about the outbreak.

• Avoid comments that unfairly label, harass, or spread misinformation.

Find updated information about the novel coronavirus at Wahkiakumcovid19.com.