Grays Harbor Public Health COVID-19 response update
Grays Harbor County Public Health & Social Services Department
Case updates
Grays Harbor County continues to have 1 confirmed case of COVID-19. This case was identified on March 11, 2020.
Response efforts
Recent accomplishments
Grays Harbor County Health Officer, Dr. John Bausher, issued a Health Order that directs local hospitals to prioritize testing for COVID-19 for certain groups of people, including health care workers and public safety workers, among others. The Health Order is available at www.healthygh.org/s/Health-Officer-Order-Testing-Priorities-20200320-Signed.pdf.
In addition, Dr. Bausher also issued a Health Order that expedites testing of health care workers and public safety workers. This Health Order is available at www.healthygh.org/s/Testing-Process-for-First-Responders-and-Health-Care-Personnel.pdf.
These Health Orders ensure that the first responders and health care workers that are caring for patients with COVID-19 will receive care and be appropriately isolated as quickly as possible.
Grays Harbor Public Health has made guidance documents available to a wide range of service providers, including healthcare providers and hospitals, schools, child care providers, long-term care facilities, and many others. These guidance documents are available on our website at http://www.healthygh.org/covid19guidance.
Current priorities
Grays Harbor Public Health is working with local agencies to develop a plan to address the isolation and quarantine needs for people experiencing homelessness and other people who are not able to self-isolate at home.
Background
On March 14, 2020 Grays Harbor Public Health activated an incident management team to coordinate the local response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the direction of a policy group that includes local officials, medical and emergency response experts, and the Grays Harbor County Health Officer, the incident management team is using the best public health and medical science to control and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
What people should do
Grays Harbor Public Health encourages every Grays Harbor County resident to do their part by following Governor Jay Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order.
If you think you have COVID-19 or were exposed to COVID-19, you should contact your doctor and follow the isolation and quarantine guidance available on our website at www.healthygh.org/s/COVID-19_IsolationQuarantineGuidance.pdf.
Where to get information
The incident management team will be working to get information out as it becomes available.
Residents can call the Grays Harbor Public Health COVID-19 call center at (360) 964-1850 for information about COVID-19. The number will be staffed by non-medical personnel from 8:30am- 4:00pm Monday through Friday.
Local information and resources related to COVID-19 are also available on our website at www.healthygh.org/covid19.