Practice Social Distancing

Changing our behavior is never easy. But keeping more space between yourself and others can help keep disease from spreading. While this is going around, you should stay at least six feet away from other people. Depending on what kind of work you do, you may be able to telecommute or come into the office at a different time than usual to avoid the morning rush. Look at spacing people further apart and having fewer people in a room. It might make sense for you to meet with people individually instead of as a group. You may be able to cancel or postpone large events or offer distance or online options. Limit travel, and, of course, avoid close contact with those who are sick.

Who has to quarantine themselves at home?

There’s a lot of information on who has to quarantine at home and when. It can be confusing, but let’s walk through it:

You have a cough and a fever

AND you have had a test and actually been diagnosed with COVID-19, you need to stay home away from people for 7 days or until 72 hours after your fever and symptoms are gone, whichever is longer.

AND you have NOT had a COVID-19 test, but you have had close contact with someone who has had a test and been diagnosed with COVID-19, you should isolate yourself at home for 7 days OR until 72 hours after your fever is gone and your symptoms get better, whichever is longer.

AND you have NOT been around anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, you should stay home away from others until 72 hours after the fever is gone and symptoms get better. You may have COVID-19 or you may have any number of other respiratory diseases circulating in our communities.

You feel fine

BUT you have had close contact with a sick person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Please monitor your health for fever, cough and shortness of breath during the 14 days after the last day you were in close contact with the sick person with COVID-19. You should not go to work or school, and should avoid public places for 14 days.

BUT your kid or someone else in your household has a cough and a fever, but has NOT been tested for COVID-19. The sick person needs to stay home until their fever and symptoms have been gone for 72 hours. You and the rest of the household can continue to go to work and school as long as you feel well. There are many potential respiratory diseases that can cause cough and a fever.

BUT a friend of a friend of yours has COVID-19. You can continue to go to work and school as long as you feel well. If you have not had close contact with someone with COVID-19, you are at low risk of COVID-19.

BUT you are worried about your older or medically fragile friends and relatives. This is a time to practice social distancing. Refrain from shaking hands, high fives, and hugs, stand 6 feet or more away from other people. See if you can work from home. Wash your hands frequently.

Stay tuned to our blog for more information on how you can help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Daily update on COVID-19 case numbers

Our Department of Health COVID-19 webpage is updated daily with the number of people confirmed to have positive cases and the number of people who have died of COVID-19 in Washington State. As of this writing, 267 people in Washington have tested positive for COVID-19, and 24 have died of the disease. We are very likely to see more people with COVID-19 identified in the coming days.

Get and spread reliable information on COVID-19

This blog update is current as of the day it is posted, but information changes rapidly. Please check our website for the most up-to-date info on Washington’s response to COVID-19 at www.doh.wa.gov/coronavirus.

Fight stigma, public panic, and misinformation by getting your information from trusted sources. Listen to guidance from the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and your local health department.

Contact us

If you have questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington state, start by visiting our website. Public can contact our call center 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, at 1–800–525–0127.