Health Department counsels on coronavirus

The Whitman County Health Department is advising residents to be aware and take basic precautions for the potential arrival of the coronavirus in the county.

The disease, also know as COVID-19, began in China, with the first confirmed case in Washington state on Jan. 21. It has since spread to 18 cases, with six deaths, all of which have been outside of Eastern Washington.

“For otherwise healthy folks, it's not worse than seasonal flu,” said Troy Henderson, Whitman County health director.

People at risk to die from the disease, Henderson explained, are from a vulnerable population.

“Predominantly the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions,” he said.

The season flu has a 0.1 percent fatality rate while COVID-19 Henderson estimated at 0.5 percent or less.

“It's a serious illness, as is the seasonal flu,” he said.

The first precaution is to stay at home if you are sick. Others are to maintain respiratory etiquette – cover you nose with your cough or sneeze, into your upper sleeve if need be, not your hands – wash hands regularly, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands, call ahead before going to a doctor to inform them if you think you may have COVID-19, and practice social distancing – keeping coughs and sneezes more than six feet away from others.

The county Health Department is now working with county and regional partners to prepare for cases within our area.

The symptoms of COVID-19 illness are runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, fever and a general feeling of being unwell. It takes two to 14 days after a person gets the virus in their body to get sick.

Henderson advises that if you or someone you know has these symptoms, it is important that you call your healthcare provider before going to their facility. This is to help the office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.

If you have questions about what is happening in Washington, how the virus is spread and what to do if you have symptoms, call the Washington State Department of Health at 1-800-525-0127.