Dear Internetking:
Given growing concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, on Monday I held a Telephone Town Hall and Briefing with Kirsten Wysen from King County Public Health.
Click here to listen to the recording.
Over 4,000 of your neighbors and fellow constituents dialed in and asked over 120 questions. I have highlighted just a few of these questions and answers below – along with some important new updates from state and local government:
What is COVID-19 and how is it different from the flu?
COVID-19, formerly known as coronavirus, is a virus spreading from person-to-person contact in the United States and abroad. While symptoms of COVID-19 – which may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath – are similar to those caused by a flu or cold, there appear to be some significant differences between a typical influenza virus and COVID-19 including incubation period, speed of transmission, and impact on vulnerable populations. As we continue to learn about this new virus, it is important to take it seriously and not dismiss it as one might dismiss a common cold.
You can read more about COVID-19 at the CDC website.
Is it safe to attend large gatherings?
State and local officials have issued prohibitions today on attending large gatherings. Earlier today, Governor Jay Inslee
announced new community strategies and social distancing plans. Starting today, events that take place in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties with more than 250 people are prohibited by the state. This order applies to gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational activities. These include but are not limited to: community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; conventions; fundraisers and similar activities.
In addition to the Governor’s order,
King County issued a parallel local order to prohibit gatherings of 250 people or more, as well as a prohibition on events with fewer than 250 people unless strict public health measures are followed.
How is the virus spread? What should I do to stay safe?
COVID-19 is most commonly spread from an infected person to others through droplets by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact (such as touching or shaking hands), and touching a surface with the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
To reduce your risk of catching or spreading the virus, practice excellent personal hygiene:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces like doorknobs and light switches.
- Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill.
- Follow the recommendations of your local health department.
Please note that being Chinese or Asian American does not increase the chance of getting or spreading COVID-19. People – including those of Asian descent – who have not recently traveled to Asia or been in contact with a person who is a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 are not at greater risk of acquiring and spreading COVID-19 than other people.
According to the CDC, stigma and discrimination can occur when people associate an infectious disease, such as COVID-19, with a specific population or nationality, even though not everyone in that population or from that region has the disease and members of particular groups are at no greater risk for contracting it. Two weeks ago,
I joined my colleagues in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) to dispel the stigma, misinformation, and conspiracy theories that are disparaging and negatively affecting the Asian American community in the United States and abroad.
What do we do if we have been exposed to the virus?
If you are in King County and believe you were exposed to
a confirmed case of COVID-19, or if you are a healthcare provider with questions about COVID-19, contact the King County novel coronavirus call center: 206-477-3977. The call center will be open daily
from 8 AM to 7 PM PST.
If you do not live in King County or if you have general questions about COVID-19 or Washington State’s response, please call the Washington State Department of Health call center: 1-800-525-0127 and press #.
This is a time to practice social distancing to protect older or medically fragile friends and relatives. As noted above, you are encouraged to refrain from shaking hands, high fives, and hugs, and stand at least six feet away from other people out of an abundance of caution. You should also wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.
Will schools be closed?
In light of Governor Inslee's request for citizens to practice social distancing measures, Seattle Public Schools have announced plans to close for a minimum of 14 days, per CDC guidance. Beginning tomorrow (Thursday, March 12), all Seattle Public School building activities including school day instruction, childcare, health services, enrichment, etc. are canceled until further notice. More information will be communicated tomorrow, and an emergency food plan will be put into place
on Monday, March 16 for all students.
Please check the SPS Coronavirus 2019 Update webpage for new information.
For public schools outside of Seattle, the Governor is asking school districts to make contingency plans around how they could provide services to families in need if schools closed for several weeks. Potential issues to address include free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch, students completing school work at home, and child care options.In Congress, I have co-sponsored legislation –
the Maintaining Essential Access to Lunch for Students (MEALS) Act – to protect students’ access to school meal benefits during school closures. Millions of children rely on free or low-cost meals at schools across the nation, and we have a moral responsibility to ensure these kids still have access to food and meals during this crisis. If passed and signed into law, this bill will give the USDA the flexibility it needs to accept requests from states to continue meal programs even if schools are shut down because of COVID-19.
How are tests being administered?
Test availability is being rapidly expanded in Washington. Our State Department of Health currently has capacity to test 200 people per day. The University of Washington recently began offering testing as well, with a capacity to test 1500 people per day, and a number of commercial labs are also offering testing.
Please remember that not everyone needs to be tested. If you begin experiencing symptoms, please contact your primary care doctor first. They can best advise you whether you require testing. Do not go to an emergency room unless essential as we need to preserve emergency room resources for those who need critical care.
If you are uninsured or are otherwise worried about the cost of testing, the State has taken specific measures to ensure that no one faces financial barriers to accessing the COVID test:
- Special enrollment period to sign up for health insurance if you are uninsured: In response to the potential growth of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) announced a limited-time special enrollment period for qualified individuals who are currently without insurance. This special enrollment period (SEP), that runs through April 8, 2020, will allow uninsured individuals 30 days to enroll in health insurance coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder.
- Access to COVID testing: Washington State Insurance Commissioner Kreidler instructed health insurers to waive copays and deductibles for people needing testing for novel coronavirus, COVID-19, to ensure that cost is not a barrier for accessing the test.
What are you doing to support workers and address the economic impacts of the virus?
I, along with my colleagues on the Education and Labor Committee, have introduced several important pieces of legislation:
- The COVID-19 Worker Protection Act of 2020, will protect the safety of healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19. This legislation would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to issue an emergency temporary safety standard to ensure health care facilities implement comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plans to keep front line health care workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The No Cost for COVID-19 Testing Act, will require all health insurance plans to cover the full cost of COVID-19 testing, including health care provider office visits, urgent care center visits, and emergency room visits related to testing for COVID-19.
Additionally, earlier today, the House Education Labor Committee held a legislative hearing on the Healthy Families Act to ensure that workers have appropriate protections, such as paid sick and safe days. This would help ensure that workers are able to take time off in the event of an emergency like COVID-19. We, on the Education and Labor Committee, are committed to developing an emergency paid sick days solution that will meet the immediate need of workers impacted by COVID-19.
I also joined my colleagues from Washington's Congressional delegation in writing to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner to request a six-month extension to allow tax filers in Washington State to file their taxes. Additionally, Washington State is taking several important steps:
- Workers Compensation: To ensure workers’ compensation protections for health care workers and first responders who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak, the State is immediately changing its workers’ compensation coverage policy to provide benefits for health care workers and first responders who are quarantined after being exposed to COVID-19.
- Unemployment Insurance: Governor Inslee announced yesterday new rules that enhance the flexibility of the unemployment insurance program. The rules will help relieve the burden of temporary layoffs, isolation and quarantine by ensuring unemployment benefits are available to individuals whose employment has been impacted directly by COVID-19.
How do we protect people in nursing homes and assisted living facilities
Yesterday, Governor Inslee announced new rules around nursing homes and assisted living facilities that focus on better protecting older adults – a population more likely to be hit by COVID-19 (coronavirus) – during the ongoing statewide, unprecedented health crisis.
These new rules include:
- Visitors must be adults and the visit must take place in the resident’s room. This does not apply to end-of-life situations.
- All visitors must follow COVID-19 screening and follow reasonable precautionary measures. Precautionary measures include, but are not limited to, wearing personal protective equipment, social distancing, or visiting in designated locations.
- All visitors must sign into a visitor’s log. Owners and operators must retain that log for 30 days.
- Employees or volunteers must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms at the start of each shift.
- People who live in nursing homes or assisted living facilities and who test positive for COVID-19 must be isolated away from other people.
- Owners, operators, staff and volunteers are prohibited from disclosing protected and confidential health information, except as otherwise provided by law or with the resident’s consent.
How do we protect people who are incarcerated?
In King County, the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention is taking proactive steps to protect the health of the community, including for those persons in adult and juvenile detention facilities. King County Jail Health Services and DAJD staff have instituted enhanced screening to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and medical care is available at all facilities. Detainees who become seriously ill are transported to Harborview Hospital for medical care.
To reduce the risk of spread in detention facilities, King County has enhanced its surface disinfection cleaning protocols in adult and juvenile facilities. Employees who work directly with detainees are following appropriate hygiene protocols to limit spread of the virus.
Outside of King County, the Washington State Department of Health has recently issued specific guidance for correctional facilities as well as jails and detention facilities with onsite medical facilities and is distributing this information widely.
How can we get the most current information?
Please visit
my website for the latest information from the CDC and state and local health departments - and as you’ve probably seen, I’ve been sending regular, exhaustive updates to our newsletter list (
click here to subscribe).
You can also visit the following websites to stay up to date.
In addition,
King County has materials available on its website that have been translated to 11 languages including Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Amharic, Somali, and more, and the Washington State Department of Health also has
fact sheets available in these languages.
The safety and wellbeing of my constituents and your loved ones is of greatest importance to me and my staff. If you have further questions or concerns, pl
ease reach out to my district office in Seattle at 206-674-0040. You can also follow me on
Twitter and
Facebook for regular updates.
Sincerely,
U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal
Washington's 7th District