10 Things to Manage Your Health at Home

English pdf icon[1 page] | Spanishpdf icon | Chinesepdf icon | Vietnamesepdf icon | Koreanpdf icon10 things you can do to manage your health at homeIf you have possible or confirmed COVID-19:Stay home from work, school, and...

Sorry folks this was published last Saturday and only now is getting posted to this site. Next updates will happen on a timely basis!

Date: March 21, 2020

SUMMARY

Vashon Island’s volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) has established the COVID Testing Steering Committee exploring options for testing island residents for COVID-19. Humans have no immunity and currently no medications are available. Vashon Island has no cases confirmed by Public Health – Seattle and King County (PHSKC).

Local physicians explore COVID testing for Vashon Island residents

STORY

The Vashon Island’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) has established a COVID Testing Steering Committee. The committee...

Hello NERO leader,

Please share this update with your NERO group members. THANK YOU for all you do for your neighborhood!

I want to let you know that the Vashon Emergency Operations Center (EOC) team and VashonBePrepared are currently activated to support Vashon during the COVID-19 pandemic, under the direction of Incident Commander VIFR Chief Krimmert. 

Activities include: sharing reliable information with the community, supporting island medical providers, facilitating groups that are organizing to support the community, and looking for ways to help island businesses weather the economic impacts of the pandemic. 

Team members are also communicating to King County Emergency Management with daily situation reports, so the county can more accurately include Vashon’s needs when communicating with Washington state agencies. We are following all guidelines for safety, including holding our meetings via phone and video, not in person.



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An excellent summary of what WE ALL CAN DO to help slow the COVID-19 impact is in this new CDC approved tri-county Mitigation Plan.

Every one should read this!

Click here to download “CDC’s Recommendations for the next 30 days of Mitigation Strategies for Seattle-King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties based on current situation with widespread COVID-19 transmission and affected health care facilities”

Bottom...

Recommendations for people at high risk for complications from COVID-19 (i.e. older than 60 years, have chronic medical conditions or weakened immune systems, or who are pregnant) and families who live with them: Make sure you have access to several weeks of medications and supplies. Create a household plan of action (see CDC’s home plan checklist). Avoid close contact with people who are sick.Avoid crowds and other congregate settings. Try to avoid being in large groups of people, especially in poorly ventilated spaces.Clean your hands often. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after...

o Information on management of isolation in the community for patients who test positive for COVID-19: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/COVIDcasepositive.pdfo What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19):https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/COVIDexposed.pdfo For guidance on minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in food establishments, visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/communicable-diseases/disease-control/novelcoronavirus/food-establishments.aspxThe...

March 5, 2020SummaryPublic Health has specific advice for people who have been confirmed with COVID-19, have been around someone with COVID-19, or are feeling unwell but haven’t been in close contact with someone with COVID-19. With respect to testing, Public Health – Seattle & King County does not typically conduct testing. Testing is typically conducted by taking a swab at a health care provider’s office.StoryIn King County, we currently have reported 51 confirmed cases of COVID-19. We are likely to see many more cases of COVID-19 in the coming days and weeks. Symptoms of COVID-19 typically include fever, cough or shortness of breath. Here is guidance on what to do:What to do if you have confirmed or suspected COVID-19Restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home. Do not go to work, school or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, taxis, or ride-share. Monitor your symptoms and call before visiting your doctor. If...

4 March 2020SummaryLocal health officials announced new guidance to King County residents aimed at reducing their risk of exposure to COVID-19. While all residents can take steps now, people with underlying health conditions are urged to follow recommendations to avoid large gatherings of people.StoryLocal health officials announced today new recommendations to King County residents aimed at reducing their risk of exposure to COVID-19. We understand these actions will have a tremendous impact on the lives of people in our community. We are making these recommendations in consultation with CDC based on the best information we have currently to protect the public's health.This is a critical moment in the growing outbreak of COVID-19 in King County and these measures can potentially impact the spread of the disease.Public Health is recommending, but not requiring, the following steps:People at higher risk of severe illness should stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible, including public...

ingredients to make your own hand sanitizer:2/3 cup of rubbing alcohol 1/3 cup aloe vera gel5-10 drops of essential oil (optional)Mixing bowlSpoonFunnelTwo-ounce spray bottle or liquid soap containerMasking tape and pen or marker for labeling the container (or adhesive labels)

Directions: Pour the alcohol and aloe vera in a bowl and stir until blended. Add several drops of essential oil and stir to help mask the smell of alcohol. Use the funnel to pour the eight ounce mixture into containers, then affix the strips of marked masking tape (or adhesive labels) to identify the bottles' contents.

Just be sure to wind up with 60-70% alcohol in the final solution. Resulting sanitizers are effective for some weeks in a closed bottle.

Details at: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hand-sanitizer-coronavirus-make-your-own/

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As COVID-19 begins spreading through Washington, be prepared for scams and misadvise to spread with it.



VashonBePrepared’s suggestion? Ensure you are tracking authoritative (i.e., scientific, balanced) sources of information.

We have prepared a list of these sources on our new web page:

www.vashonbeprepared.org/covid-19