Health District has steps in place to deal with the novel coronavirus

DAYTON-Public Health Director Martha Lanman told the county commissioners on Monday that steps are in place to deal with a possible COVID-19 outbreak in Columbia County, and that her department is following guidelines issued by the State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Board of County Commissioners processed a request by Lanman, which will allow her to hire additional staff and acquire supplies as needed.

Lanman said one local person is in the process of being tested for COVID-19 and is self-quarantined at home, pending test results, which should be available later in the week.

That person, an unidentified woman, may have come in contact with the virus through travels outside the area, Lanman said.

Most people don't become seriously ill, but there is a challenge because most people have no built-in immunity to it.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, people most at risk of serious illness tend to be the elderly, people with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women. Children do not appear to be as seriously affected.

The flu shot will not protect against this new virus, but it is important to get the shot in order for health officials to distinguish between flu and COVID-19 coronavirus.

Dr. Kyle Terry said the Columbia County Health System is working with the local health department, emergency providers and the University of Washington, following guidelines to prepare and do its part to prevent the spread of this "sneaky little virus".

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization, COVID-19 can cause mild symptoms and yet spread easily. Transmission is primarily spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to the spread of flu.

Facemasks are not recommended for healthy people to protect themselves from respiratory diseases including COVID-19, according to the CDC. Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread the disease to others.

Terry said the incubation period is about five to fifteen days. It takes around two weeks to recover from mild infections, and three to six weeks for more severe infections.

He said testing for COVID-19 is limited to patients at high risk and who have severe symptoms, and not everyone can be tested.

The University of Washington and two commercial labs are processing requests for tests.

Dr. Terry is advising people with fever, cough, and trouble breathing to call the Waitsburg Clinic at: (509) 337-6311 or the Columbia Family Clinic at: (509) 382-3200, if there are concerns.

"You will be asked a series of questions to determine your risks for COVID-19. You will then be given recommendations about where to go to access care," he said.

Columbia County Fire District 3 is following the Washington State Department of Health protocols.

Fire Chief Jeromy Phinney at Columbia County Fire District 3, said Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) will utilize personal protective equipment when transporting people who have symptoms of COVID-19. This includes masks, goggles, and gowns.

Columbia County Health System CEO Shane McGuire said it is important that people who are experiencing respiratory distress, and who call 911 for help, communicate any COVID-19 concerns to the dispatcher, in order to protect the EMTs.

"As a community, they are a precious resource and if we had even one crew exposed, it could hamper their ability to respond to medical emergencies," he said.

Dispatchers will have questions they will ask callers who suspect COVID-19, in advance of emergency personnel arrival.

Patients being transported to Dayton General Hospital will be met by staff in the parking lot, wearing proper personal protective equipment, and the patients will be brought to an isolation room for treatment, through an isolated entry.

Walk-in patients will be assessed for initial criteria and if COVID-19 is suspected they will be escorted through the isolated entry, and into the isolated treatment room, he said.

"We have added additional signage at the entrances, and have asked all staff, patients, and visitors to increase hand sanitization protocols," he said.

McGuire said hospital staff may require visitors to the hospital to hand-sanitize before being permitted entry into care areas.

Doug Johnson, Superintendent of Dayton Public Schools, said students and parents are being educated in common preventative measures, and school custodians are implementing best practices for cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing every day.

"We have contacted our local Health Department for assistance and guidance. We will continue to communicate with them as long as needed," he said. "In the event of an emergency, the District will collaborate with the community health officials to determine any actions to be taken, including the decision to close school, or to exclude students or staff from attending."

Dr. Terry said, "Our local communities have shown a remarkable ability to work together in difficult times, like our response to the recent flooding. Working together we will get through this, as well."

On Feb. 29, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency because of COVID-19, after a 50-year-old man in Kirkland, Wash. died after contracting the disease.

As of Tuesday of this week, the state death toll stood at 24, with 267 confirmed cases according to the state Department of Health.

Questions about COVID-19 can be answered by calling the Columbia County Public Health Department at: (509) 382-2181, or by calling the state DOH hotline at: 1-800-525-0127.

For accurate updates go to cdc.gov/covid-19 and http://www.doh.wa.gov.