Health Update: COVID-19 Outbreak
Grays Harbor County Public Health & Social Services Department
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 Information for Health Care Providers
State of Washington Public Health Lab – Prioritized populations for testing
Must get approval from Local Public Health and the Washington State Department of Health. Please call 360-532-8631 for approval for the following patients:
o Health Care Worker
o Patients in other public safety occupations (e.g. law enforcement, fire fighter, EMS)
o Patients involved in an illness cluster investigation in a facility or group setting
o Patients with NO health insurance
Testing at Commercial Laboratories
In general, the Washington State Department of Health does not recommend testing asymptomatic persons, however, you can consider testing asymptomatic persons if they have been in close contact with a confirmed case through commercial laboratories. Any other patients can be tested per healthcare provider judgement.
Many commercial labs are testing for COVID-19 and more are being added. Please see each laboratory’s test menu for specimen collection instructions, submission forms, and shipping requirements. As of 3/9/20, the following labs are providing testing. Many more labs will become available as FDA approves testing facilities.
o University of Washington Virology Lab
o Laboratory Corporation of America
o Quest Diagnositcs
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