Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Updated: Jun 16, 2022
The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, has declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic
-A special Thank you to Doctor Li Wenliang who saw something, and said something.
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SITUATION: (Last Update 4/5/2022)
Vaccines and boosters are both in use and being distributed world wide.
Symptoms of respiratory infections, including COVID-19 Respiratory infections can spread easily between people. It is important to be aware of symptoms so you can take action to reduce the risk of spreading your infection to other people.
The symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections are very similar. It is not possible to tell if you have COVID-19, flu or another respiratory infection based on symptoms alone. Most people with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections will have a relatively mild illness, especially if they have been vaccinated.
If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you are advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
Symptoms of COVID-19, flu and common respiratory infections include:
continuous cough
high temperature, fever or chills
loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell
shortness of breath
unexplained tiredness, lack of energy
muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise
not wanting to eat or not feeling hungry
headache that is unusual or longer lasting than usual
sore throat, stuffy or runny nose
diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick
If you are vaccinated and feeling unwell with these symptoms you should get plenty of rest and drink water to keep hydrated. Antibiotics are not recommended for viral respiratory infections because they will not relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.
In some cases, you might continue to have a cough or feel tired after your other symptoms have improved, but this does not mean that you are still infectious.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html
Specific Data on those affected(per King County in WA State):
https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data/LTCF.aspx
The virus appears to slow the ability of your body to take in oxygen by directly attacking your lungs. If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. It is vital to act quickly, as lingering after effects can take place and be with you for months after been released from a hospital stay.
Emergency warning signs include*: (Dial 9-1-1)
Trouble breathing
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion
Inability to wake or stay awake
Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
Please Note: From multiple sources, the virus has the ability to hang in the air for extended periods of time. From all accounts of its ability, the small droplets can persist as a threat for minutes in the air after being exhaled by an infected individual. Some reports indicate 30 minutes and go up to 3 hours under the right conditions. There are technical options that can help stop the spread indoors. Wear an N95 or better mask when around possibly infected people, or in environments where air is recirculated. Use HEPA Air Filters (with MERV 16 rating) and with UV Light is also recommended. Because the virus has and is mutating into variants, all precautions are still highly recommended especially for those that have not received a vaccine pair or an additional booster(s).
Situation
This pandemic is and will remain a global outbreak of disease for some time to come.
Pandemics in general happen when a new virus emerges to infect people and is spread between people sustainably. Because there is little to no existing immunity against the virus and its mutations, it will continue spread and mutate worldwide.
This is still an evolving situation and information is updated as it becomes available.
Situation in Washington State specifically - Vaccines are being distributed. We as a state are doing really well with vaccinations.
The CDC has a COVID Tracker website which can help you identify hotspots in your area.
See: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view
DATA:
Note: The Latest Washington figures can be found here: https://www.doh.wa.gov/emergencies/coronavirus
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Interactive Maps & Data on the Corona Virus outbreak:
(Map Tools for tracking the Virus)
World Health Organization (WHO): GIS Map DATA
Washington State EOC Dashboard: GIS MAP DATA
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If you have questions, reach out to your healthcare provider or visit DOH’s Frequently Asked Questions page. To find vaccine near you, you can use the state’s Vaccine Locator website, text your zip code to GETVAX (438829) or VACUNA (822862) to receive addresses of nearby available vaccination sites, or call 833-VAX-HELP.
DOH has partnered with the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington and the Microsoft AI for Health program to develop these reports every other week since the early months of this pandemic. As our experts at IDM transition away from this project, we at DOH would like to extend our sincere gratitude for their dedicated partnership in the production of these reports. More COVID-19 data can be found on the DOH data dashboard.
The DOH website is your source for a healthy dose of information. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Sign up for the DOH blog, Public Health Connection.
If you want to think of a single word to describe how easily this virus spreads, think "Glitter". And just like walking through a cloud of glitter, it gets on everything, and spreads just as easily.