Health Update: COVID-19 Outbreak



COVID-19 case counts

• There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Grays Harbor County.

• Statewide case counts are changing rapidly.

• The most recent official counts are available on the Washington State Department of Health’s 2019 Novel Coronavirus Oubreak (COVID-19) webpage (doh.wa.gov/coronavirus). Counts are updated at 11am daily.

COVID-19 testing guidance
Two tracks for testing for COVID-19 

Please contact Grays Harbor Public Health to triage your testing options.

1.      State of Washington Public Health Lab

Must get approval from local Public Health and the Washington State Department of Health.

I. Fever or lower respiratory symptoms/signs AND close contact (including

healthcare work) with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case within 14 days of symptom onset

II. Fever and lower respiratory symptoms/signs requiring hospitalization AND

travel to an affected geographic (CDC level 2 or 3) within 14 days of onset; see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html  

III. Fever with severe acute lower respiratory illness (e.g., pneumonia, ARDS) requiring hospitalization (or fatal) and without alternative explanatory diagnosis (must test negative for other viral respiratory pathogens)

Grays Harbor Public Health coordinates the specimen collection/transport to the Pubilc Health Lab.

2.      University of Washington Virology Lab

For testing when patient does not meeting CDC/WA Department of Health testing criteria listed above. (https://testguide.labmed.uw.edu/public/view/NCVQLT)

• Provider calls  University of Washington Virolgy Lab, Client Support Services for further guidance. Available 24/7, (206) 520-4600 or 1 (800) 713-5198).

• Grays Harbor Public Health does not coordinate the specimen collection/transport to the University of Washington Virology Lab.

• Use appropriate infection control precautions when collecting respiratory tract specimens. More information below. Full guidance on specimen collection can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection-control/control-recommendations.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fhcp%2Finfection-control.html

  Diagnostic Respiratory Specimen Collection

• Collecting specimens for testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from patients with known or suspected COVID-19  should adhere to Standard, Contact, and Airborne Precautions, including the use of eye protection.  Full PPE should be utilized.

• These procedures should take place in an AIIR or in an examination room with the door closed. Ideally, the patient should not be placed in any room where room exhaust is recirculated within the building without HEPA filtration. 

• For more information, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/clinical-criteria.html.

  Additional information

• Washington State Department of Health:   https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/NovelCoronavirusOutbreak2020/HealthcareProviders

• CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/guidance-hcp.html   

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Health Alert: Immediate action needed
Health Update: Updated information on Alert or Advisory

Health Advisory: May require immediate action
Info Service: Not of an emergent nature