The Washington State Department of Health provided the following information today regarding COVID-19 and caring for your loved ones.
*COVID-19 Update, March 27, 2020*
Good evening! The state Department of Health wants to keep you as informed as
possible about continuing developments surrounding COVID-19, as well as to provide
guidance and resources you can share with employees, clients, or customers.
*Caring for loved ones*
Many of us are worried about or trying to take care of loved ones who are at higher
risk for getting very sick from COVID-19. Today we released guidance for taking care
of someone who is at high risk or is already sick with respiratory illness. If you
are caring for someone who is well now, but at higher risk of getting very sick from
COVID-19, there are some steps you can take now.
Contact their healthcare provider to ask about getting extra necessary medications to have on hand in case you and your loved one need to stay home for a prolonged period of time. If you cannot get extra medications, consider using mail-order for medications. Ensure you have enough medical supplies (oxygen, incontinence, dialysis, wound care) and create a back-up plan for getting more.
Make sure your loved one has non-perishable food items on hand.
Determine who can care for your loved one if you become sick. Stay in touch with others by phone or email. You may need to ask for help from friends, family, neighbors, community health workers, etc. Create an emergency contact list.
We have also included in this guidance practical strategies to reduce your risk of
getting sick while caring for someone even if you don't have access to standard
personal protective equipment (masks, gloves, gown). These strategies are not as good
as using the standard equipment, but they may help to reduce your risk of getting
sick, and are better than nothing. This guidance is available on the WA Department
of Health website
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/NovelCoronavirusOutbreak2020/HealthEducation in 26 languages (under Information for families caregiving for loved ones).
*Numbers*
We've had so many tests reported lately, it slowed down our reporting!
Keep checking our website for updates. Our most recent numbers show that 52,738
people in Washington have been tested for COVID-19. Of those, 3,723 people or about
7% have tested positive for COVID-19, and 175 have died of the disease.
*Practice compassion.*
Check in on someone you know who is balancing care of an
inter-generational household. How could you help?
Stay home and stay healthy!