COVID-19 Information
COVID-19 information pages are no longer updated.
See the CDC's COVID website for current information and trends.
COVID-19 information pages are no longer updated.
See the CDC's COVID website for current information and trends.
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Variants of COVID-19
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkWe are learning more about new strains of COVID-19.
Information about the characteristics of these variants is rapidly emerging. Scientists are working to learn more about how easily they spread, whether they could cause more severe illness, and whether currently authorized vaccines will protect people against them.
What We Know
Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. Sometimes new variants emerge and disappear. Other times, new variants emerge and persist. Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been documented in the United States and globally during this pandemic.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is a type of coronavirus, a large family of viruses. Coronaviruses are named for the crown-like spikes on their surfaces. Scientists monitor changes in the virus, including changes to the spikes on the surface of the virus. These studies, including genetic analyses of the virus, are helping scientists understand how changes to the virus might affect how it spreads and what happens to people who are infected with it.
Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 are circulating globally:
1. The United Kingdom (UK) identified a variant called B.1.1.7 with a large number of mutations in the fall of 2020.This variant spreads more easily and quickly than other variants. In January 2021, experts in the UK reported that this variant may be associated with an increased risk of death compared to other variant viruses, but more studies are needed to confirm this finding. It has since been detected in many countries around the world. This variant was first detected in the US at the end of December 2020.
2. In South Africa, another variant called B.1.351 emerged independently of B.1.1.7. Originally detected in early October 2020, B.1.351 shares some mutations with B.1.1.7. Cases caused by this variant have been reported in the US at the end of January 2021.
3. In Brazil, a variant called P.1 emerged that was first identified in travelers from Brazil, who were tested during routine screening at an airport in Japan, in early January. This variant contains a set of additional mutations that may affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies. This variant was first detected in the US at the end of January 2021.
These variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on health care resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths.
So far, studies suggest that antibodies generated through vaccination with currently authorized vaccines recognize these variants. This is being closely investigated and more studies are underway.
Rigorous and increased compliance with public health mitigation strategies, such as vaccination, physical distancing, use of masks, hand hygiene, and isolation and quarantine, is essential to limit the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 and protect public health.
What We Do Not Know
Scientists are working to learn more about these variants, and more studies are needed to understand:
- How widely these new variants have spread
- How the disease caused by these new variants differs from the disease caused by other variants that are currently circulating
- How these variants may affect existing therapies, vaccines, and tests
What it Means
Public health officials are studying these variants quickly to learn more to control their spread. They want to understand whether the variants:
- Spread more easily from person-to-person
- Cause milder or more severe disease in people
- Are detected by currently available viral tests
- Respond to medicines currently being used to treat people for COVID-19
- Change the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines
What CDC is Doing
CDC, in collaboration with other public health agencies, is monitoring the situation closely. CDC is working to monitor the spread of identified variants, characterize emerging viral variants, and expand its ability to find new SARS-CoV-2 variants. CDC is collaborating with EPA to confirm that disinfectants on EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus inactivate these variant viruses. As new information becomes available, CDC will provide updates.
Source: CDC's "About Variants of the Virus that Causes COVID-19"
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Managing Symptoms and Caring for Others at Home
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkPublic Health has created an infographic on Managing COVID-19 at Home.
It has tips to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when someone in a household is sick. This infographic was designed for large households whose members cannot isolate or quarantine away from their home.
It’s available in 30 languages, with additional ones on the way. A full blog post about managing COVID at home is on Public Health Insider in English and Spanish.
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About Masks
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkReposted from the Public Health Insider
To help us get through the next phase of the pandemic safely, as the vaccine roll-out continues, a mask that’s well-made and fits well can make a big difference. Masks are one of the most important ways we can prevent COVID-19 – even with new, more contagious variants of the virus spreading.
There’s more evidence that wearing a mask protects everyone – the person wearing the mask (personal protection) and others around them (source control). Although masks alone are not 100% effective, they are a powerful tool.
“When everyone wears a mask, we’re all safer,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Always wear your mask whenever around people who don’t live with you, especially indoors.”
“The key is to use a mask that’s well made and fits snugly against your face,” said Duchin.
Why are masks still so important now?
For starters, it’s important to remember that COVID-19 often spreads from people that look and feel well and who don’t have symptoms. So, we need to always take precautions. Also remember, the virus spreads primarily through the air, particularly with close contact. And (less commonly), it can also spread over longer distances indoors, especially when ventilation is not good.
That’s why we need to keep using multiple types of prevention at the same time – such as wearing masks, along with decreasing indoor activities with people who don’t live in your home, keeping as much physical distance from others as possible, avoiding crowded indoor spaces, improving indoor ventilation, and washing hands.
What are the most important considerations for the general public when selecting a quality cloth mask?
Fit and filtration are the keys. Your mask should be:
- 2-3 fabric layers
- Made of tightly woven fabrics such as cotton and cotton blends
- Breathable
- Snug fitting, without gaps around the face
Wearing a mask with at least two layers is important. And for the mask to work well, a snug fit is key. Masks that are loose with gaps around your face or nose are not as helpful in protecting you or others.
How do I know if my mask fits properly?
The mask should snuggly cover your chin and nose, with no gaps. In order to more effectively filter out virus particles, your breath should go through the mask and not around the sides or out the top. If your glasses are fogging, the fit needs improvement. A nose wire in the mask helps improve the fit.
There are products, such as Fix the Mask and Badger Seal that you can add to your mask to improve the fit and prevent air leaking out the sides. This news report offers more details for how to improve mask fit.
Why are 2+ layers important?
The more layers you have, the harder it is for virus particles to get through. So, masks that have two or more layers are more effective at protecting the person wearing the mask and others around them.
There are a number of 2+ layer mask options. Cloth masks should have two or more layers. A filter acts as a layer, and some cloth masks have an option for a paper filter inside the mask, which adds a second or third layer.
Studies have shown that multiple layers of cloth with higher thread counts (tighter weave) have demonstrated superior performance compared to single layers of cloth with lower thread counts. Some other materials, such as polypropylene and silk, also can enhance the quality of a mask.
So, should I be double masking now?
Double masking (wearing two masks) is a way to add layers and create a snug fit. This improves filtration. That can be done by using two masks with a tighter fitting mask on top, or by making sure a single mask has multiple layers and fits very well.
Is a surgical mask or N95 a better option than a cloth mask?
Currently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) doesn’t recommend “medical grade” FDA-regulated N95 masks or surgical masks for the general public. The main reason is to preserve limited supplies for healthcare workers and certain essential workers.
Although very effective when worn properly, N95 masks are expensive and remain in short supply. If enough affordable supplies and quality control standards were available, N95 or similar masks could be a potential option for use by the public, particularly in high-risk settings.
Some types of non-medical, disposable surgical-style masks are an option, but it can be difficult to determine the quality of these masks. In the absence of national standards for rating masks for the public, people can look for disposable surgical-style masks that are “ASTM” rated. If a surgical-style mask is worn, a snug fit is important just like with cloth masks.
Note regarding healthcare workers: Cloth masks and surgical-type masks available to the public are generally not medical grade. Healthcare providers at work should use the masks provided through their employer.
What about KN95 masks?
Right now, we don’t have enough evidence to be able to make a recommendation for the public about using KN95 or similar masks. They might be as good or better than cloth masks, assuming they have a snug fit. But we don’t know enough yet about how to ensure the quality of these masks, as there is wide variation by manufacturer and the quality is not well-regulated.
If you order masks online, please beware that counterfeits and poor-quality masks are also sold.
If I get vaccinated, can I stop wearing a mask?
The vaccines are effective in preventing you from getting sick with COVID-19 (typically starting a couple of weeks after getting your second shot). But we don’t yet know if you may still be able to get infected with the virus and pass it on to others. At this time, everyone, including people who get vaccinated should continue to follow current public health guidance. This includes limiting close contact with other people outside your household, avoiding crowds, avoiding poorly ventilated indoor spaces, keeping as much distance as possible from others, washing hands frequently – plus consistently and correctly wearing a well-fitting, good quality face mask.
Ultimately, the most important tools against COVID-19 will be vaccines, but it will take many months before enough vaccines are available and enough people vaccinated to reach broad protection in our community.
Over time, as more people in the community are vaccinated, we will likely be able to relax other COVID-19 prevention measures that are currently needed. But definitely not yet.
Our understanding of masks continues to evolve, and Public Health will continue to update guidance as knowledge improves. We hope to see more information from the federal government on certification of effective masks for those who choose to upgrade.
Want to dig further into the science behind what we are learning about face masks for the public?
These are some scholarly and medical articles about masks and face coverings:
- Evidence for the Importance of Masking during COVID-19 (with discussion of double masks)
- Evaluation of Cloth Masks and Modified Procedure Masks
- Should everyone wear medical masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
Originally posted February 9, 2021
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More Support for Businesses and Workers via the State Legislature
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkA piece of the state’s COVID-19 recovery plan has passed with bipartisan support in both chambers and was signed by the Governor on Monday.
On Monday, Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation, otherwise known as SB 5061, providing relief for businesses and workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bill will increase minimum unemployment benefits for workers and provide significant tax relief for businesses over the next five years, to support recovery from the economic impacts of COVID shutdowns.
SB 5061 relieves employers of individual benefit charges for claims that occurred during the governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” (March 22 – May 30, 2020), and caps certain tax rates through 2025. Together, these actions prevent a $1.7 billion spike in unemployment taxes over the next five years, including just over $920 million in rate increases this year.
The legislation also addresses the hardship being faced by workers, putting more money into the pockets of those experiencing unemployment by increasing the minimum benefit starting July 1.
Additionally, SB 5061 makes policy updates to ensure that Washington’s unemployment insurance system is more nimble and responsive during public health emergencies. This includes eligibility for individuals at high risk for severe illness and their family members.
Businesses and individuals won’t have to go through any additional processes in order to receive the deductions or increased benefits.
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Fastest way to make vaccine appointments
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThe fastest service is self-service.
Due to the State's COVID-19 hotline's high call volume, the fastest service is self-service. The DOH recommends the following:
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Confirm Eligibility. Use Phase Finder to see if you're eligible to get vaccinated: www.findyourphasewa.org
- If you are currently eligible, you will get a confirmation.
- Print or take a screenshot of this page.
- If you sign up for emails, it will be sent to you automatically.
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Schedule Appointment. Call your doctor's office or health care provider to see if they have available vaccination appointments.
- Or use the link provided in your confirmation to schedule your appointment (it will show you locations where you can get the vaccine).
- What to Bring. Take your printed confirmation (or bring your phone with the screenshot) from Phase Finder with you to your appointment and identification (with birth info).
Washingtonians without internet access, or who may not be comfortable using online tools, can call the COVID-19 hotline (1-800-525-0127) for help making appointments for three of the mass vaccination sites.
Please note: The hotline does not have special access to appointments -- they use the same scheduling tools available to the public for self-scheduling.
High-Volume Sites Open in King County
On February 1, King County opened two new community vaccination sites in Kent and Auburn to expand vaccine access to the most vulnerable older adults in King County. Establishing these sites now will help prepare for high-volume community access once more vaccine becomes available.
- Kent ShoWare Center 625 W. James St. Park, walk, or arrive by transit and enter building. Wheelchair accessible.
- Auburn General Services Administration Complex 2701 C St SW. Drive-through site
More information is available at Public Health’s vaccination website.
Four mass vaccination sites opened statewide
The DOH, with assistance from the Washington National Guard and local and private sector partners, is launching four mass vaccination sites throughout the state this week in Kennewick, Ridgefield, Spokane and Wenatchee.
Given the limited supply of vaccine that is available at this time and our state’s commitment to equitable and fair access to vaccine, the state is requiring that those seeking COVID-19 vaccines in its four mass vaccination sites must either live or work in Washington state.
People who register for vaccines at these four sites may be asked to provide one of the following:
- driver's license or work/school ID,
- letter with your address,
- utility bill,
- statement/letter with a Washington state address, or
- voucher from an employer, faith-based institution, health care provider, school, or other registered organization or agency, etc. that the person lives or works in Washington state.
The vaccine site will not make a copy or record this information in any way. This is only to show that the person currently resides or works in Washington state.
Click here for information on mass vaccination sites.
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Confirm Eligibility. Use Phase Finder to see if you're eligible to get vaccinated: www.findyourphasewa.org
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The New Variant COVID-19 Strain is Here
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThe new strain has arrived in Washington, here’s what you need to know.
It is worrisome, but not surprising, to learn that the new COVID-19 variant strain that has been reported in many U.S. states has now been detected in Washington state.
Washington State Department of Health and Snohomish Health District announced that UW Medicine Virology Lab detected two cases of the COVID-19 variant, known as B117, in specimens collected from two Snohomish County residents.
The strain spreads more easily than others and quickly became the dominant strain circulating in the United Kingdom, where it was first identified. The CDC recently predicted the B117 strain will be the predominant strain in the US by March.
As we confront this more contagious strain of COVID-19, here’s the important thing to understand: The variant strain spreads in the same ways as other COVID-19 strains, it’s just better at it. That means we need to get better at our countermeasures: masks, physical distance, good ventilation and staying home when possible.
“We should expect the variant strains to become widespread here, and that will make the outbreak harder for us to control. But we have the advantage of early warning to help us prepare,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County.
Steps we can take
The appearance of the B117 variant in Washington reminds us that it’s important to do all we can to stop the spread of COVID-19 – in our homes, workplaces, social lives, and wherever we gather – and to push cases down as low as possible BEFORE the B117 strain can spread widely and gain an advantage. This means we need to meet this new challenge by going all in on the steps that we know work, starting now.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, isolate yourself away from others and get tested. Stay in isolation while waiting for your test results and until your healthcare provider or a Public Health investigator lets you know when to end your isolation (usually 10 days after symptom onset if you are improving and have not had a fever in at least 24 hours). The person with COVID-19 and others in the home should wear masks until all ill people are out of isolation.
If you think you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, get tested even if you don’t have symptoms and be diligent about quarantining and staying away from others, including wearing a mask in your home around other people.
Minimize your contacts and activities with people outside your household, wear a well-fitted face mask around anyone you don’t live with and stay six feet or more apart, wash your hands often, avoid crowded indoor spaces and remember that a well-ventilated area is safer. These are our most effective tools in the fight against COVID-19, including this new, more infectious B117 strain.
Lastly, when you are eligible, get vaccinated to protect yourself. Vaccination is ultimately our best defense, but at this time, it can’t be our only defense. New, more contagious strains of COVID-19 are concerning, but we’ve had a year to get to know this virus and how to prevent its spread. We can beat this variant strain, but it will require serious and renewed effort from all of us for a few months. And we need to start right now doing all we can to stop the spread, before the variant spreads too widely and gains momentum that could make our situation even tougher to manage.
More information from Washington State Department of Health’s blog on identification of the new variant.
Originally posted 1/23/2021 in Public Heath Insider
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