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Dear friends and neighbors,
As you may be seeing and hearing in the media, there are many events and gatherings being postponed and cancelled. The Seattle Times has been doing a great job sharing this information with readers.
Meanwhile, many employers continue to encourage that employees work from home and many schools have chosen to temporarily close. The Seattle – King County Department of Public Health supports these decisions.
While evidence currently available is that the vast majority of children and most adults are not at risk for severe illness, we do know that some members of our community are at higher risk. These include people 60 and older, people with weakened immune systems, people who are pregnant, and those with underlying health conditions, including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes.
People at higher risk should stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible, including public places with lots of people and large gatherings where there will be close contact with others. More detail on these measures is available at www.kingcounty.gov/covid.
Here is what Public Health is recommending you do to stay healthy and prevent the spread of the illness:
1) Do not go to the emergency room unless essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs. If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular doctor first.
2) Stay home when sick.
3) Practice excellent personal hygiene habits, including handwashing, coughing into tissue or elbow, avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
4) Stay away from people who are ill.
Information is changing frequently and I’ll keep doing my best to keep you informed on the latest. You can also check and subscribe to Public Health’s website (www.kingcounty.gov/COVID) or blog (www.publichealthinsider.com).
Thank you for taking the time to read this update. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Kohl-Welles
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