COVID-19 positives reach 12

Four more people in Whitman County have tested positive for COVID-19. This brings the total to 12. With the exception of the most recent case, Public Health has completed contact tracing for the patients. Those who have been identified as having "close contact" were contacted and given instructions.

According to a health department release, "close contact" is someone who has lived in the same household as the infected person, cared for the infected person, been within six feet of infected person for about 10 minutes or had direct contact with secretions from infected person, such as being coughed on, kissed or shared utensil.

The first 11 patients who have tested positive in the county are all stable and isolating at home. Status of the 12th was unavailable as of press time. The newest patient is a female in the 40-59 age range.

Other new cases were found in a female and male in the 18-44 age range and a female patient in the 45-64 age range.

The Whitman County Emergency Operations Center has changed its reporting of the age grouping of positive patients to align with the State DOH daily Epidemiology Report.

State Department of Health has stated if you have not been in close contact with an infected person, you are at low risk for infection. Those that have are advised to monitor for fever, cough and shortness of breath while self-isolating for 14 days after the last day of close contact with the infected person.

Social distancing of at least six feet from others is still the best way to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

In addition to social distancing of at least six feet from other individuals, the CDC is recommending people wear homemade masks when in public where social distancing is impractical.