Neighbors:

As we near the final days of the 2020 legislative session, I would like to take a few minutes to pass along some helpful information about the coronavirus that’s afflicting our region.

Above all else, please heed the warnings and follow the recommendations of our public health officials. It’s not uncommon for false information to rapidly spread on the internet and social media.

Please check the following sites and follow the social media accounts for the latest information on the coronavirus.

Centers for
Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC)		 Washington State
Department of Health		 King County
Health District		 Snohomish County
Health District
Website Website Website Website
Facebook Facebook Facebook

Facebook
Twitter Twitter Twitter

Twitter

 

Lawmakers are receiving regular updates from public health officials. One such update occurred last week in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. Secretary of Health John Wiesman gave an update and asked the Legislature for up to $100 million in emergency funding to fight the virus, which we approved the following day.

What you can do to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus

  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Stay away from others who are ill. Consider avoiding events with large groups of people. This is particularly important if you are at high risk or have people at high risk in your household.
  • If you have symptoms of coronavirus (fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath) or have traveled to a high risk area or come into contact with someone with the virus, call your doctor rather than going to the emergency room. Your doctor will determine if you should go to the ER.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

There are additional guidelines from the department of health on what to do if you think you may have the virus here, here, and here.

Also, please remember this virus does not target one race of people over others. Discrimination based on ethnicity or ancestry will make the situation worse. Having Chinese ancestry – or any other ancestry – does not make a person more vulnerable to this illness. Viruses – like all illnesses – don’t recognize race, nationality or ethnicity.

The Washington State Department of Health has established a call center to address questions from the public. If you have questions about what is happening in Washington, or how the virus is spread, please call 1-800-525-0127. Phone lines are currently staffed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

 

 

 

Senator Jesse Salomon
2nd Legislative District