YAKIMA, WA- On February 28, 2020 the Yakima Health District (YHD) was notified of an individual whose recent travel history and symptoms were consistent with possible COVID-19. The Yakima Health District decided, out of an abundance of caution, to collect a specimen to send to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). This specimen was tested, and the results determined the patient did not have COVID-19. Currently, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Yakima County.
On January 21st, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced the first case of COVID-19 in the United States. Since then, a total of 13 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Washington State in Snohomish and King County. Screening processes have been put in place for U.S. residents who are returning from areas experiencing active spread of COVID-19. These processes are in place to quickly identify and prevent the potential spread of COVID-19.
In Yakima County, the Yakima Health District has spent the past several weeks preparing for the possibility of Yakima County being affected by the outbreak. YHD will continue to work with our partners to ensure the spread of COVID-19 is contained, should it appear in our community. When an individual is a Person Under Investigation (PUI- someone who may potentially have COVID-19 based on symptoms and exposure history) or a close contact of a confirmed case, the individual is immediately put under self-quarantine.
Dr. Teresa Eversion, Health Officer for the Yakima Health District said, “If a person under investigation in Yakima County is found to be a confirmed case of COVID-19, the Yakima Health District will immediately notify the public. At that point in time additional preventative measures may be asked of the public. For now, we are asking the community to continue to practice frequent handwashing and appropriate cough etiquette.”
Additional preventive measures the public can take include:
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid contact with people who are sick
• Stay home while you are sick
• Ensure your family has a plan for extended periods of illness
If you are experiencing symptoms such as runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat and/or fever as well as have recently traveled to high travel alert area (China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, Japan), contact your primary care provider immediately.