As of midday Wednesday, 10 deaths in Washington had been linked to COVID-19. More than 100 cases in the United States had been confirmed, spread among 15 states.
While those numbers are certain to grow and while much is unknown about the disease that has become a global concern, the situation calls for calm and for common sense. The best protections are awareness of symptoms, reliable information about the disease, the virus that causes it, and its spread — and standard hygiene practices.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that symptoms can appear between two and 14 days after exposure and typically include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Health officials recommend visiting a doctor if symptoms appear, and they ask that you inform the clinic of your suspicions before showing up in order to best protect other patients and health care workers.
The latest information about the coronavirus and its local impact can be gleaned from Clark County Public Health and The Columbian. As of Wednesday, no instances of the coronavirus had been reported in Southwest Washington, but eight possible cases in Clark County had been referred for testing, along with three cases in Longview. The Columbian is providing all stories related to the outbreak for free at Columbian.com.
News about this new coronavirus and the disease COVID-19 at a national or global level is important, but limiting the outbreak requires local action. Health officials recommend the following:
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. (Hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol is recommended when soap and water are not available.)
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue, then throw it in the trash and wash your hands.
• Stay home and away from others when sick.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.
As Alfred Seekamp of Vancouver Clinic said: “That’s probably our best defense — the things our parents taught us when we were young.”
Meanwhile, officials are keeping a close watch on the spread of the virus and weighing options to best protect public health. Several schools north of Seattle, where the outbreak has been concentrated, have closed out of an abundance of caution. Local districts have remained open, and spokeswoman Gail Spolar of Evergreen Public Schools said the district will follow recommendations from Clark County Public Health: “They’re the experts in public health, and that’s the direction we’ll follow.”
That is sound advice that should be followed by all residents. While the coronavirus outbreak warrants attention, in part because there are so many unknowns, it does not call for panic. It also does not call for politics at a time when all Americans have a shared interest in stemming the virus.
Last week, Gov. Jay Inslee took the opportunity on Twitter to bash Vice President Mike Pence, who has been appointed to lead the federal response to the outbreak. By the same token, President Donald Trump used the situation as an excuse to criticize Democrats, saying, “This is their new hoax.”
No, the coronavirus is not a hoax. People are dying, and reasoned leadership is necessary to reassure the public and stem a dangerous pandemic.
All of that means it is time for people to employ caution, but it is not time for them to panic.
