COVID-19 FAQ's

Update March 17th 2020:

Should I go in for testing if I think I may have been exposed?

We are currently unable to test for COVID-19. We can treat you for respiratory symptoms via telemedicine, herbs and supplements.
If you are ill, call ahead to your healthcare provider to discuss further steps. If testing is needed, the providers will coordinate directly with public health.
Those who are close contacts of the presumptive positive case have been contacted by public health staff for further instruction. If you have not been contacted, please assume that you are not impacted and that your risk of acquiring COVID-19 is not higher than the general population.

Where can I find more information?

Washington State Department of Health: www.doh.wa.gov/coronavirus

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

World Health Organization: www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Statewide hotline: 1-800-525-0127

King County Novel Coronavirus Call Center:

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 our COVID-19 call center: 206-477-3977.
Hours: 8 AM-7 PM
For general questions about COVID-19 or WA state’s response, call the Statewide Hotline: 1-800-525-0127

UPDATE: MARCH 4th 2020:

Preventing the Spread of COVID-19

According to DOH, persons who are older or who have underlying health conditions are at higher risk to develop complications from this virus. Individuals that fall in these categories should take extra precautions to avoid exposure and make plans for care in the event that they begin to notice symptoms of COVID-19. People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should call their health care provider immediately and make arrangements in advance to seek treatment.

Since there are no vaccines to prevent against COVID-19, the best strategies for prevention are some commonsense measures from the CDC and DOH:

Wash your hands often, with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you’re sick.
If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular doctor first. Isolate yourself and wear a mask before leaving the house. Do not go to the emergency room unless essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids, eating healthy foods, and managing your stress can help you prevent getting COVID-19 and recover from it if you do.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
If you or a loved one are ill or suffer from a chronic condition such as diabetes, chronic heart disease, respiratory conditions or illnesses that weaken the immune system, consider restricting your out of home activities since you are more susceptible to illness.
Make sure your vaccinations are up to date and be sure to get a flu shot if you have not.
CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it. A facemask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of facemasks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
Avoid travel to countries with sustained spread of COVID-19. Information about travel to specific countries can be found here through the CDC.
Ensure your home emergency preparedness kits are up to date.
Rely on trusted sources like the Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Be wary of false information that may spread through social media.
Do not show prejudice to people of Asian descent because of fear of this new virus. Do not assume that someone of Asian descent is more likely to have COVID-19.

Additional Information

Experts have been working hard to understand COVID-19. Because new information surfaces every day, please visit my website for the latest information from the CDC.

You can also visit the following websites to stay up to date.

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 #.

The safety and wellbeing of my constituents and your loved ones is of greatest importance to me and my staff. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to my district office in Seattle at 206-674-0040. I will also be regularly updating constituents on COVID-19 via social media: Twitter and Facebook.

MARCH 2nd 2020

If you are sick, to keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you should:

Stay home when you are sick with respiratory disease symptoms. At the present time, these symptoms are more likely due to influenza or other respiratory viruses than to the COVID-19 related virus.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Contact your Primary Care provider for testing. We offer herbs and supplements for pick up as well.

There are simple everyday precautions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. These include:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. We will be increasing the
disinfection of facilities and hand washing routines for staff at Glow. Patients at Glow will be asked if they have a fever, cough or shortness of breath. If they exhibit symptoms they will be given a mask and taken to a separate area.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%-90% alcohol if soap and water are not available. COVID-19 can transmit through both respiratory droplets and via stool, so careful handwashing is critical.
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw it in the trash can. Cough or sneeze into your elbow and not your hand if you do not have a tissue available. If you contaminate your hand and then touch other objects, you will spread the virus