Inslee urges those with mild symptoms to get tested for COVID-19

As part of Washington state’s new strategy to defeat the new coronavirus, Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday encouraged those with mild symptoms to get tested for COVID-19.

In the early months of the pandemic, the state asked people without chronic diseases, or with mild symptoms, or who were younger to stay home and not get tested.

“There weren’t enough testing supplies available and secondly, our clinics and others were not necessarily prepared to handle people safely with the infection control precautions,” said state Secretary of Health John Wiesman.

Now that testing supplies are more available because of shipments from the federal government and state procurement, Washington residents have to “unlearn” some of the early messages and hear new ones, Wiesman said.

“If you think you have symptoms, even mild, of COVID-19, please get tested,” Inslee said at a news conference Thursday. “Second, if you are a household member of a person who has the suspicion of COVID-19 or who has come into contact with someone, please get tested.

“While you are waiting for your test results, we need you to stay home until you get a negative test, and that includes people in your household,” the governor added.

Inslee said the broader testing strategy will involve people in a wide variety of congregate settings where a positive test has occurred, including meat-packing plants, agricultural sites, high-density low-income housing, long-term care facilities, and homeless shelters.

As Washington gradually reopens businesses that were deemed “non-essential” under Inslee’s stay-at-home order, the governor repeatedly has said testing, contact tracing, isolation of those who test positive, and wearing facial coverings are the new strategies as social distancing declines.

Inslee also urged medical providers to make sure their patients get tests if they say they have COVID-19-like symptoms.

“We know that these have been tough decisions for our medical personnel. They’ve made some good decisions, but now is the time to really ramp up the testing for folks who have these symptoms,” the governor said.

People can go to coronavirus.wa.gov to learn more about testing locations, Inslee said.

Wiesman said over the past few months public health officials have identified more symptoms of COVID-19.

In addition to fever and chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty of breathing, other symptoms include fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, a loss of taste or smell, sore throat and congestion, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Wiesman said equity is a major focus in the broadened testing strategy.

“We know that people with lower incomes, the elderly, people of color, and immigrant and refugee communities are suffering more from the COVID pandemic than are others. These communities do need to be prioritized and we have to ensure that we are reaching them in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways,” he said.

This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 6:39 PM.