FAQs

Variants are a common occurrence in viruses. They are constantly changing through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. Most of the SARS-CoV-2 virus mutations don’t impact us. Those that do are called Variants of Concern.

The SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing and Variants in Washington State (PDF) contains the most current information about variants in our state. It is updated every Wednesday.

Because viruses mutate when they are transmitted from one person to another, the best way to combat mutations is to stop transmission.

DOH Variants information

What should I do if my test expired?

Different brands of tests have different expiration dates. Do not use expired tests unless the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the date printed on the box.

The FDA has extended the expiration dates for some brands, including iHealth and FlowFlex:

• For iHealth, add 6 MONTHS to the “use by” date

08 (August)becomes02 (February)

• For FlowFlex, add 4 MONTHS to the “use by” date

08 (August)becomes12 (December)

To look up other brands of tests, go to: bit.ly/FDAselftest.

I am traveling out of state this weekend and a PCR test is required. Are the tests available at the drive-thru testing site approved for that?
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are approved for travel, however these are not rapid tests. If you need your results to get on the plane, you need to come at least three days before your flight. Shipments are sent to the lab one time each day. While we’re happy take your sample and send it to be tested closer to your flight, we’re unable to fast-track the process for you. Our focus is to reduce the spread of disease in our community. You can find PCR tests at other locations in our community like Health First Urgent Care and Walgreen’s locations.

What are the different COVID-19 Tests?
There are three types of tests available for COVID-19: molecular (NAAT and PCR), antigen, and antibody (serology) testing. Molecular and antigen tests detect whether a person is currently infected, and serology detects whether a person had an infection in the past and currently has antibodies.

BFHD accepted-types-of-covid-tests

What is the difference in the tests?
PCR tests look for genetic material of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the nose, throat, or other areas in the respiratory tract to determine if the person has an active infection. In most cases, a nasal or throat swab is taken by a health care provider and tested. Sometimes the test can be run while you wait, and sometimes the swab needs to be sent to a lab for testing. A positive PCR test means that the person being tested has an active COVID-19 infection.

Antigen tests look for pieces of proteins that make up the SARS-CoV-2 virus to determine if the person has an active infection.  These tests are available over-the counter and at health clinics.  In most cases, a nasal or throat swab is taken and tested. Sometimes the test can be run while you wait, and sometimes the swab needs to be sent to a lab for testing. A positive antigen test means that the person being tested has an active COVID-19 infection. These tests are often qualitative, meaning positive or negative, not quantitative (level of infection).  If you use an at-home test and it is positive, please call COVID Hotline1-800-525-0127 and press # for instructions on reporting results.

Serology/Antibody tests looks for antibodies of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the blood to determine if there was a past infection. In most cases, a blood sample is taken and sent to a lab for testing. A positive antibody test means that the person being tested was infected with COVID-19 in the past and that their immune system developed antibodies to try to fight it off.

At-home COVID-19 test

Important updates to the Say Yes! COVID Test (SYCT) program:  Please visit the SYCT website to see if you are eligible to place a single monthly order. The program will end on May 11, 2023.

Self-collection kits and self-tests are available either by prescription or over-the-counter (without a prescription) in a pharmacy or retail store.

Currently available self-collection kits and self-tests are used to check for current infection, meaning whether you have COVID-19 right now .  These test are typically antigen tests. Please follow these guidelines when using an at home test. Positive results can be reported to the Department of Health by calling 1-800-525-0127.

Will my insurance cover COVID-19 testing or is there a co-pay?
Yes. Most health insurance plans will cover testing and treatment for medically-necessary services related to COVID-19. Commissioner Kreidler has ordered all health plans his office regulates to waive copays and deductibles for people requiring testing for COVID-19. If you are concerned about whether or not you should be tested, read the guidance from the Department of Health and call your provider first. Copays and deductibles will still apply if you need treatment or if you have a clinic visit.

Who should get a test?
Anyone who is experiencing even mild COVID-like symptoms should isolate themselves away from others and call their health care provider. Getting tested as soon as possible is important to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Anyone, regardless of age or health status, with these symptoms should call their provider to be evaluated for a test or find a testing option in the community:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fever or chills
• Muscle or body aches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• New loss of taste or smell
• Fatigue

It is important to isolate yourself as soon as you develop symptoms, even before you are tested, because if you have COVID-19, you are already contagious.

If you have been in close contact for a combined total of 15 minutes or more within a 24-hour period with someone who has COVID-19, it’s important to get tested, even if you don’t have symptoms. It’s best to get tested 5-7 days after that exposure and no earlier than 48 hours, unless you develop symptoms. It typically takes 5-7 days after exposure for the test to report more accurate test results. If you develop symptoms, get tested as soon as possible. Learn more on this “What to do” fact sheet.

Seek medical care immediately if someone has emergency warning signs of COVID-19:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face

This list is not all possible symptoms. If you are unsure, contact your healthcare provider to evaluate your symptoms and determine if you need a test.

We urge anyone who feels they should be tested to get a test.

Where do I go to get tested locally?
Please visit our testing site page for locations.

BFHD will not be doing testing. Do not go to the hospital for testing.

Are there any drive-through testing locations near me?
Yes, Please visit our testing site page for information. Some pharmacies offer drive-through options.

My test was negative. Am I safe to travel or see friends or family?
Not necessarily. If you have been exposed to COVID-19, a negative test could mean that, on the day of your test, the virus had not replicated inside your body enough to produce a positive result. It does not mean you are clear of COVID-19 after a possible exposure. Only a negative test following a 10-day quarantine would guarantee you are free of COVID-19.

Why am I getting a negative test when I have symptoms?

It is possible to get a negative at-home test even if you have symptoms for a couple of possible reasons:

Your immune system could be fighting the virus. That could prevent the virus level in your body from getting high enough for a COVID-19 test to detect. But if your immune system can’t continue to fight off the virus, you might be positive later. That’s why it’s important to repeat the test 4 to 5 days after your symptoms start. Many brands of tests come with two tests for this purpose.

You might not have collected enough nasal drainage when you swabbed. Carefully follow the instructions on the box to make sure that there is enough sample material from your swab.

What is cycle threshold and why does it matter?
Some people want to know the cycle threshold of our confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The most common test for COVID-19 is a PCR test. The PCR machine puts a person’s nasal swab sample through a series of cycles in search of COVID-19 genetic material, known as RNA. Each cycle amplifies any present RNA. The CT value equals the total number of cycles required to find RNA, and each positive test has its own CT value. If no RNA is found within 37 to 40 cycles, the test is negative.

So, a low CT value equals more COVID-19 genetic material. A high CT value means less.

Labs currently do not report CT values of positive test. A positive is a positive. But we get questions and comments from residents who want more information about  CT value, to shed light on how contagious a person might be or who might be more at risk for serious health issues.

The same sample can give different CT values on different machines. And different swabs from one person can give different results. It is not a standardized measure and not an absolute. While many see promise in gaining more information from them, members of the College of American Pathologists have urged caution in interpreting CT values.

Locally, labs don’t report cycle threshold values to us, so we do not have this data to report. We report the total number of new confirmed cases, and many other metrics to help people understand the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

People who test positive for COVID-19 and are at higher risk of becoming very sick may benefit from available COVID-19 therapeutics (medications). These treatments can help prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you test positive and are at higher risk, as treatments need to be started early to work best. Your healthcare provider will help determine if COVID-19 medications are appropriate for you.

• Our COVID-19 Therapies Quick Guide (PDF) provides an overview of treatments | Available in additional languages  

COVID-19 treatments/medications are not a substitute for prevention. It is still recommended that everyone who is eligible get vaccinated, remain up to date, and take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

What do I do if I was exposed to COVID-19?

Symptoms can appear 2-14 days after exposure and most commonly around day 5. If you develop symptoms, test, isolate and cooperate with public health to identify close contacts. Link to Symptom Decision Tree

What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19 (PDF)

Additional languages

The CDC recommends that children and adolescents age 6mos and older get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for children 6 months to 4 years of age. The Moderna vaccine is authorized for children 6 months to 5 years of age.

Moderna is a 2 dose series, Pfizer is a 3 dose series. 

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for children and adolescents age 5 and up, as a 2-dose series taken 3 weeks apart. The dose for children age 5-11 is one-third of the dosage of the vaccine for older adolescents and adults.

It’s very important to get the second dose. The first dose starts stimulating your body’s immunity, and the second dose gets it to a level of strong protection against severe COVID.

If you got Pfizer, you can get your second dose 3 weeks after your first dose. If you got Moderna, you can get your second dose 4 weeks after your first dose. If you are 12 and under, immuno-compromised, 65 and older, or need rapid protection, that’s when you should get it.

Recent research that shows that it’s OK if people older than 12 wait up to 8 weeks to get their second dose. The new research suggests that you may have a stronger immune response if you wait a little longer (but no more than 8 weeks) to get your second dose. If you have questions, ask your healthcare provider.

For more information, refer to the Primary Series COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule table from the CDC.

Washington State Department of Health has expanded booster dose eligibility to include everyone 12 and older following guidance and recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices, and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup.

Boosters

Anyone age 5 and older can now get a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine if enough time has passed since their initial vaccination:

• Moderna recipients age 18 and older: should get a booster at least 6 months after second shot
• Pfizer recipients age 5 and older should get a booster at least 5 months after second shot.
• Johnson & Johnson recipients age 18 and older should get a Pfizer or Moderna booster at least 2 months after initial shot.

Vaccination is the best way to protect children age 5 and older from COVID-19. COVID-19 has become one of the top 10 causes of pediatric death, and tens of thousands of children and teens have been hospitalized with COVID-19. While children and adolescents are typically at lower risk than adults of becoming severely ill or hospitalized from COVID-19, it is still possible.

Vaccinating younger children protects them from getting COVID-19 and reduces their risk of severe disease, hospitalizations, or developing long-term COVID-19 complications. National data shows that 1/3 of kids hospitalized for COVID-19 have needed intensive care treatment.

Locally, there have been over  3000 reported COVID-19 cases among youth in Benton and Franklin counties, 16 hospitalizations, and three deaths since the pandemic began.

The vaccine is safe and effective. Before being authorized for children, scientists and medical experts completed their review of safety and effectiveness data from clinical trials of thousands of children. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was rigorously tested and reviewed, and over 11 million adolescents ages 12-17 have already safely received the COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine helps prevent transmission. As a community, the more people that are vaccinated, the safer we will all be and the less chance that new variants of the virus will emerge. Children can spread COVID to others if they get infected. That’s particularly a worry when they are around higher-risk groups, like grandparents, other family members, or caregivers who may have medical conditions.

We also can’t lose sight of the many real, indirect impacts of COVID-19 on the health and well-being of children, including social and emotional health and educational gaps.

Please visit the Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 vaccine for kids page.

Take precautions anytime you feel sick by staying away from others and wearing a face mask if you must get within six feet of someone else. Contact you doctor and let them know that you think you have COVID-19 symptoms and would like to get tested for the virus.

Are Quarantine and Isolation different?

Yes, they are different!

• Quarantine is for people who are not currently showing symptoms but are at increased risk for having been exposed to an infectious disease. Quarantine is for people who could become sick and spread the infection to others.
• Isolation is used for people who are currently ill and able to spread the disease and who need to stay away from others in order to avoid infecting them.

Use this tool to find out if you should quarantine or isolate, and for how long:

English Isolation & Quarantine Calculator

Spanish Calculadora de aislamiento y cuarentena COVID-19

Do I need to quarantine myself if a family member is sick?
Since efforts have moved to community mitigation, if a family or household member has been diagnosed with COVID-19, we recommend you quarantine yourself as you are considered a Close Contact.

Quarantine recommendations for people exposed to COVID-19 (Close contact):

New guidance for people who are NOT up-to-date with their vaccinations and booster

Not “up-to-date” includes people who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated; people who completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna more than six months ago but have not been boosted; or people who received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than two months ago and have not been boosted.

If you are not up-to-date with vaccinations and boosters, after exposure to someone with COVID-19:

• Stay home for five days;
• Test on Day 5. It’s very important to test on Day 5 if possible.
• If you test negative at day five you can leave your home but must continue to wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask around others for five additional days; and
• If you can’t quarantine you must wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask for 10 days.
• High-quality and well-fitting masks are essential and are described here.

New guidance for people who ARE up-to-date with vaccinations and boosters

Up-to-date includes people who have received their booster shot or received the second Pfizer or Moderna vaccine fewer than six months ago or a single Johnson & Johnson vaccine fewer than 2 months ago.

In addition, children less than 16 years old (for whom booster is not recommended) are considered by the CDC to be up-to-date. They should follow the guidelines, below, for someone 16 and older who has completed their primary series and a booster.

If you are up-to-date with vaccinations and boosters, after exposure to someone with COVID-19:

• You do not need to quarantine following an exposure;
• Wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask for 10 days after the exposure; and
• Test on day 5, if possible.
• High-quality and well-fitting masks are essential and are described here.

Everyone who has been exposed regardless of vaccination status should get a COVID test five days after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a test confirms symptoms are not caused due to COVID-19.

Visit our “what to do if you are sick or exposed page”

Do I need a doctor’s note, or to ask my employee to bring a doctor’s note, if they have potentially been exposed to COVID-19?
Washington State Department of Health wants employers to emphasize workplace illness precautions, but does not recommend requiring a health care provider’s note for employees who are sick with acute respiratory illness to validate their illness or to return to work.. If an employee has tested positive for COVID-19, they should isolate for 10 days past symptom onset or test date, whichever was sooner, and not return to work unless they have been fever-free for 24 hours and other symptoms have improved.

Employee illness precautions should include:
Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work for 24 hours after fever is gone and symptoms get better, whichever is longer. Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick. Ensure that your sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health guidance and that employees are aware of these policies. Talk with companies that provide your business with contract or temporary employees about the importance of sick employees staying home and encourage them to develop non-punitive leave policies. Do not require a health care provider’s note for employees who are sick with acute respiratory illness to validate their illness or to return to work, as health care providers may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely way. Maintain flexible policies that permit employees to stay home to care for a sick family member. Employers should be aware that more employees may need to stay at home to care for sick children or other sick family members than is usual.

Can I be re-infected with COVID-19?
It is currently unknown how long COVID-19 immunity lasts after the initial infection with disease. Cases of reinfection with COVID-19 have been reported. We are still learning more about COVID-19 reinfection. Learn more from the CDC.

What can you use as proof of vaccination?

• A CDC vaccine card or photo of vaccine card.
• Documented proof of vaccination from medical record or vaccine provider.
• Proof of vaccination from another state or county.
• Printed certificate or digital record from MyIRMobile.com or other apps.

NOTE: Documentation of medical or religious exemptions not accepted.

What if you can’t find your vaccination record?

If you lost your CDC vaccination card, try these options to find your vaccination record:

• Sign up for MyIR at wa.MyIR.net. Look up your vaccination record, then print or take a screenshot. If your records don’t show up, call 833-VAX-HELP (833-829-4357).
• Ask your provider. If you received your vaccine at your health care provider, the provider’s office should be able to give you a copy of your record.
• Ask at the vaccination site. Go back to the site where you were vaccinated and ask a clinic supervisor if they can look up your record and create a new card.

For questions about your immunization record, email: waiisrecords@doh.wa.gov.

What type of negatvie COVID test is acceptable as an alternative to proof of vaccination? 

Any type of COVID-19 test administered by a testing provider can be used. Testing providers are required to use FDA-authorized or approved COVID-19 tests. The negative result must be within the past 72 hours.

Rapid tests used without the supervision of a testing provider will NOT be accepted.

(Some examples of types of FDA-approved or authorized include: PCR, TMA, NAAT, molecular, antigen, and lateral flow. This is not an exhaustive list.)

Religious or medical exemptions are not allowed. Rather, a negative test can be accepted as an alternative to proof of vaccination.

It’s important that everyone take steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The following can protect you and others:

• Get a vaccination.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Limit non-essential trips out of the house and minimize contact with others who don’t live with you.
• Stay at least 6-feet away from others outside of your home.
• Wear a cloth face covering or mask to cover your mouth and nose when outside your home.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay away from others who are sick. Stay home if you are sick or showing symptoms.
• Avoid group gatherings and poorly ventilated spaces.
• Fewer, shorter and safer interactions are crucial.
• Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.

If you must travel, check for the latest COVID-19 Travel Alerts and follow the CDC’s Travelers’ Health guidance.

You can learn more about them and how to get vaccinated at our Vaccine Information page.

More resources on COVID-19 Immunity and Masking.

  Why do you conduct case investigation of COVID-19 patients and what happens?

Case investigation and contact tracing are common public health practices used to stop the spread of communicable diseases. Contact tracing is being used for COVID-19 because the disease is highly infectious and can spread quickly. This is an effective measure to protect the health of the community and enable businesses to open and remain open.

Contact tracers will not shame or share your information with anyone you identify as a close contact.

When public health learns that someone has tested positive for COVID-19, an interviewer reaches out to talk to that person, usually by phone – this is known as a case investigation.

Staff ask every person for their date of birth, address, race, and ethnicity, and other questions. Interviewers will never ask for or write down immigration status, Social Security number, financial information or marital status. The information will be treated like a private medical record.  It is strictly confidential and will not be shared with other agencies, including immigration officials.

Every person interviewed receives guidance about how to keep themselves and others safe. Interviewers can also help connect people with resources they may need while they stay home for 14 days to ensure they are not sick (quarantine) or stay home to recover from being sick (isolation).  Here is an infographic explaining our investigation process.

WaNotify is a free app that runs in the background of your phone and shares time and spacial information with other phones with the app running within your vicinity. If you or someone else test positive for COVID-19, you can request to enter a code which will signal your phone to send an anonymous alert to other phones that meet the definition of a close contact. This allows them to watch for symptoms and test if they desire.

What is contact tracing?

Contact tracing involves calling people who may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 to provide guidance and support. This helps us slow the spread of the virus. Interviewers do not reveal the name of the person who tested positive for COVID-19 when speaking with close contacts. These calls help us keep our families and communities safe. Contact tracers also help people exposed to the virus.

Please see this document that explains the process. (Spanish)

How do you count a person who tests positive, then has additional tests to determine if they are still positive?
A person is only counted once as a positive case regardless of the number of tests that are done within 90 days.  Effective 9/1/2021 cases that test positive after 90 days are counted as a reinfection.

If a person tests positive do the rest of the family members get counted as positive?
Only lab confirmed positive cases are counted as positive. Contact tracers will call close contacts to ask about symptoms, provide education and encourage them to get tested.

Are positive antibody tests counted as positives?
No. While positive antibody tests are reported to the Health District, we are not and have not reported them as lab-confirmed positive cases.

Are positive antigen tests counted as cases?
No. BFHD does not count positive antigen cases in our case counts. The Washington State Dept. of Health lists antigen tests as “probable” cases, but not lab-confirmed cases.

What numbers are estimates or based on assumptions?
None.

How many people have recovered? Why do you not post this on your website?
People are asking why BFHD is not reporting the number of people who have recovered from COVID-19. The short answer is that we have no way to accurately and responsibly determine this number.

Washington State Department of Health has not provided a definition for what constitutes “recovered.” Counties with few case counts have the ability to call each person who tested positive on a regular basis until each person reports that they have recovered. Other counties are calculating an estimate based on the number of people who have not died or been hospitalized 28 days after a positive COVID test. Anyone who would like to calculate this number can use the Data Dashboards for each county on our website on the Benton-Franklin Case Count page.

We know that many people are ill for longer than 28 days even if they have not passed away or are hospitalized, so using a formula with no basis in fact doesn’t give us accurate data. Our community has emphasized the importance of receiving authentic, factual information. At such time when a standard definition of “recovered” in Washington State is available and able to be accurately tracked or calculated automatically, BFHD will publish the information.

How do you determine a COVID-19 death
BFHD defines a COVID-19 death as someone who died with COVID-19 as a contributing factor to their death, meaning they died because they had COVID-19. All deaths reported in Benton and Franklin counties attributed to COVID are a attributable to COVID-19, not from an unrelated cause of death.

Every death report the District receives is reviewed and audited before it is reported. If there is any question whether the individual died as a result of having COVID-19, the District can and has contacted the Coroner’s office. Deaths are not reported until they are audited and confirmed. This can take days to weeks.

National and state COVID death reporting did include death by other causes, but the Washington State Department of Health has since changed their reporting to match our reporting standards here in Benton and Franklin counties, which involves reviewing each COVID-attributed death certificate to ensure they do not include a non-COVID-related cause of death.

What is a Probable Case?
A Probable Case is a person with COVID-19 symptoms who was a household member or close contact of someone who was lab-confirmed positive within 14 days prior to onset of symptoms. This is the definition set forth by the CDC for epidemiological linked cases:  https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nndss/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/case-definition/2020/. The CDC and DOH required us to count Epi-linked cases, and we use word “probable” to report these cases to the public.

Visit the CDC travel site for information

What cleaning products can I use to disinfect for COVID-19?

You can find guidelines for cleaning products that have been specifically classified as able to disinfect for COVID-19 at www.epa.gov (EPA refers to this as SARS COV-2).

https://www.epa.gov/

BFHD infographic for bleach solution

Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Home

How should Janitorial Staff be Cleaning and Disinfecting for COVID-19?

BFHD Guidelines for Janitorial Staff

What’s the difference between the weekly “epi curve” graph and the weekly cumulative case count graph?

An epi curve (epidemiological curve) shows the number of confirmed cases based on when the specimen was collected, not the day the cases were reported or assigned to the counties. This means that today, we could report 50 cases and those 50 cases will fall on the epi curve based on when the individual tested, not today.

The daily case count is based on when lab-confirmed molecular tests are assigned to the county and reported to the public.

Where does our County case data come from?

Benton-Franklin Health District receives its data from the Washington Disease Reporting System (WDRS), which is the database that different health care groups such as clinics, hospitals and health departments receive, enter and track disease-related data. It’s a system that we regularly use to track many diseases of public health concern.

Why do we use rates when talking about case numbers in our county?

We use rates (ex: cases per 100,000 residents) to report some data because a rate factors in different population sizes and demographics. Rates let us compare groups that have different sizes, and we use rates often in our public health data.

For instance, 100 cases in a county with 10,000 people looks very different than 100 cases in a county with 100,000 people. One out of every hundred people in the county with 10,000 people has a confirmed case, while one out of every thousand people in the county with 100,000 people has a confirmed case.  The case rate is based on 14-days of epi curve data per 100,000 people in a population. You will see this as something like 250 cases per 100K over 14 days. Say the exact population is 200,000 people. That means that there are 500 people currently infected in that community.

Why aren’t you sharing recovery data?

We are unable to share recovery data for a few reasons. First, for quite a while, there was not a good, official definition of what recovery meant in relation to COVID-19. We also don’t have the ability to track and contact people with confirmed cases and ask them for updates about their symptoms on a regular basis.

Recovery is often a spectrum, and doesn’t happen the same way for everyone. A person typically doesn’t wake up one day and feel totally back to normal, it’s a gradual process that happens at different rates for different people. There may also be some who have had an antibody test that suggests they’ve had the virus, but who never had preliminary testing when they were having symptoms. Others were close contacts, or even roommates of people who had confirmed cases, but were not tested. These are some of the factors that have made tracking recoveries difficult.

Why are there some data that you don’t share?

Federal laws protect your health information so that it’s kept private. We only share protected health information if it’s legally required. We also do not share some data that aren’t specifically addressed as protected health information when we have a reasonable concern that sharing the data, or a combination of data, could allow an individual person to be identified. For example, we don’t share the sex, age and city of residence for cases of disease, because it’s possible that in small communities, that could be enough information for someone to identify the specific person who is sick.

We follow the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Small Numbers Standards. Based on these standards, we do not share numbers less than 10 except when the value to the public is critical. For example, we reported first cases of COVID-19 in the county, even though the total case count in our community was less than 10.

To be meaningful, our data sets must be 80% complete to conduct analyses or provide information about sub-sets of the data. If the data aren’t complete, we risk sharing inaccurate and unreliable data. For example, early on in the COVID-19 outbreak, we did not have race or ethnicity data for many confirmed cases. Once we had race and ethnicity data for at least 80% of confirmed cases, we were able to share a breakdown of confirmed cases by race or ethnicity.

Not that many people die from only COVID-19. Why does BFHD report so many deaths?

The United State has surpassed 600,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19. It was the third leading cause of death in 2020.

The report said that 94% of individuals dying from the disease had preexisting condition. This means that when they went to the hospital their medical history indicated more conditions. Things like diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity. Currently, over 80% of American adults have preexisting conditions.

If someone gets hit by a car and dies, they are listed as a traffic fatality whether or not they were obese or had diabetes. While there are some conditions that may make it more likely for them to die from that accident (osteoporosis or hemophilia), the accident is still what killed them. Without the crash they would still be living.  The same applies with this virus. These people got “hit by” SARS-COV-2 and they died from COVID-19. If they didn’t get the virus they would still be living, regardless of their preexisting conditions.

How do I report a business that is not complying with masking or L&I guidance?

If you think a business in not complying with the governor’s or the Department of Health’s guidline, you can submit a report here. 

Complaints about employees not wearing masks should be called in to 1-800-423-7233 or you can use this link to file a written safety/health complaint.

Business and workers inquiries can be submitted here.

I have a question about how business and workers comply with safe start initiatives.

Contact State Coronavirus Response

Doesn’t more testing raise the case count totals?

The idea that more testing results in more cases is a myth. Adequate testing simply allows for early identification of cases, which leads to quick isolation to ensure the disease is not passed beyond close contacts. Close contacts can then successfully quarantine to stop the spread. Increased testing directly correlates to a reduction in disease activity. Testing does not create disease – it allows for containment of disease.

I heard that you shouldn’t take ibuprofen for fevers because it can worsen your COVID-19 infection. Is that true?

We have heard people have been told to not use ibuprofen for fever because of a potential hypothetical effect. There is no actual evidence that ibuprofen worsens COVID-19. While the WHO initially recommended using acetaminophen instead of ibuprofen to help with fever and aches related to COVID-19, they have since updated that recommendation to say that either acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used.

This concern came about due to a theoretical risk based on the fact that ACE2 activation could lead to easier infection with COVID-19 and ibuprofen is one of the medicines that can increase ACE2, particularly when paired with conditions that require ACE inhibitors and ARBs like Hypertension.

I hear you can get sick from COVID-19 more than once. Is that true?

Many individuals have gotten COVID-19 more than once. Based on what we know from similar viruses, some reinfections are expected. We are still learning more about COVID-19. The CDC has reported an average of 90 days of immunity from natural infection and more studies are still underway. With widespread variants of the virus, it is possible to get a virus variant within the original natural immunity timeframe.

Can I get this from my pets?

We are still learning about this virus, but we know it is primarily spreading from person-to-person and it appears that it can spread from people to animals in some situations. Please visit CDC for guidance regarding pets. 

I heard that COVID-19 is not as bad as the flu.

In Benton and Franklin Counties, deaths from lab-confirmed COVID-19 have far outpaced seasonal deaths from lab-confirmed Influenza. COVID-19 is also more contagious with outbreaks easily occurring in settings where proper distancing and masking are not in effect. The wide-spread and deadly outcomes of our nation’s long-term care facilities showed how quickly and deadly this virus can be when mitigation measures are not in effect in especially vulnerable populations.

Shouldn’t we just open up and let people get exposed so we have herd immunity?

Herd or community immunity is a protective factor for many diseases. Widespread immunity for a number of once devastating illnesses has been achieved through vaccination, but people also can build immunity through exposure to an illness.

Getting infected and then being immune might sound good at first. But there are a few major problems with it.

1. We don’t yet know how long immunity to COVID may last and it is estimated to average around 90 days. Some immunities are lifelong, while others are short-lived. Infection with other coronaviruses that cause human disease often do not produce lasting immunity and repeat infections are not uncommon. Without a better understanding of whether there is lasting immunity to COVID, we can’t bank on it.
2. Increased exposures to this illness would overwhelm our hospitals and medical system. Overloading hospitals and clinics would jeopardize care not only for COVID patients, but for others with unrelated health conditions. We have seen serious hospital and staffing capacity issues locally and across the nation.
3. There are indications that this illness can cause enduring damage. People may recover, and may even have immunity, but at the price of new health complications. The symptoms, severity and outcomes of the illness aren’t the same for everyone. Experts still are working to understand the extent of what this virus does to the human body and researchers are now studying “longhaulers” and “Long COVID.”