Protecting Yourself from COVID-19

We encourage you to monitor reliable sources on COVID-19 including:

Snohomish Health District -- http://www.snohd.org/ncov2019

Washington State Department of Health – https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV

You can also call the hotline operated by the state health department if you have questions. That number is 1-800-525-0127 and press #.

Direct phone numbers for local health districts:

• Snohomish County (425) 339-5200

• Island County (360) 679-7350

• Skagit County (360) 336-9380

• King County (206) 477-8000

Health officials still don’t know everything about this virus, but they do know that the best line of defense in controlling this is prevention.  

The CDC recommends these steps in preventing the spread of COVID-19:

• Practice good personal hygiene – wash your hands.  Scrub them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;

• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available;

• If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will contain infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more!

• Avoid touching your face (mouth, nose, eyes);

• Avoid people who are sick;

• Stay home if you are sick with any cold or flu symptoms.

• Keep your environment clean.  Wipe down door handles, counters, work stations, phones, and other surfaces that are touched frequently.  Experts believe this virus can live on surfaces and be viable for up to nine days.  Our offices are equipped with sanitized disinfectant wipes, please use these liberally.

• If you believe you have been exposed to the coronavirus, reach out to your local public health department and your physician

We encourage the following precautions that are similar to ones used during our influenza seasons:

• NO HANDSHAKING! Use a fist bump, slight bow, elbow bump, etc.

• Use ONLY your knuckle to touch light switches. elevator buttons, etc.. Lift the gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or use a disposable glove.

• Use disinfectant wipes at the stores when they are available, including wiping the handle and child seat in grocery carts.

•  Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each of your home's entrances. AND in your car for use after getting gas or touching other contaminated objects when you can't immediately wash your hands.

Here are some suggestions of what you can do to stock up in preparation;

• Latex or nitrile latex disposable gloves for use when going shopping, using the gasoline pump, and all other outside activity when you come in contact with contaminated areas.

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Note: This virus is spread in large droplets by coughing and sneezing. This means that the air will not infect you! BUT all the surfaces where these droplets land are infectious for about a week on average - everything that is associated with infected people will be contaminated and potentially infectious. The virus is on surfaces and you will not be infected unless your unprotected face is directly coughed or sneezed upon. This virus only has cell receptors for lung cells (it only infects your lungs). The only way for the virus to infect you is through your nose or mouth via your hands or an infected cough or sneeze onto or into your nose or mouth.

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• Stock up now with disposable surgical masks and use them to prevent you from touching your nose and/or mouth (We touch our nose/mouth 90X/day without knowing it!). This is the only way this virus can infect you - it is lung-specific. The mask will not prevent the virus in a direct sneeze from getting into your nose or mouth - it is only to keep you from touching your nose or mouth.

• Stock up now with hand sanitizers and latex/nitrile gloves (get the appropriate sizes for your family). The hand sanitizers must be alcohol-based and greater than 60% alcohol to be effective.

•  Stock up now with zinc lozenges. These lozenges have been proven to be effective in blocking coronavirus (and most other viruses) from multiplying in your throat and nasopharynx. Use as directed several times each day when you begin to feel ANY "cold-like" symptoms beginning. It is best to lie down and let the lozenge dissolve in the back of your throat and nasopharynx. Cold-Eeze lozenges is one brand available, but there are other brands available.

We will continue to monitor new information and keep you informed to the best of our ability.

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We've included some resources on how to talk to friends or loved ones with developmental disabilities about COVID-19, courtesy of Green Mountain Self-Advocates.

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