No coronavirus reported in Pierce County on Tuesday, according to health department
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Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said Tuesday there still are no confirmed cases of COVID-19, or coronavirus, in Pierce County.
The agency has approved testing for “a number” of patients. Healthcare providers order tests and the health department approves them if the case meets federal criteria.
The health department director, Dr. Anthony Chen, told The News Tribune on Monday that counting the number of tests is not a reliable number for those with increased risk.
“It’s fluctuating so much that we aren’t focused on what that number is,” Chen said of the test specimens.
The state laboratory can test up to 200 specimens a day for the virus, Dr. Kathy Lofy, state health officer, said in a press conference.
If worried you have contracted the virus, Chen said to wear a face mask, call your primary care doctor and set up an appointment. Do not go to the emergency room unless essential, he said.
“We don’t need worried people packing the emergency room,” Chen said.
Those at elevated risk of exposure include healthcare workers caring for infected patients; people who have had close contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients; travelers just back from trips in countries with community spread.
If an outbreak in the county does occur, TPCHD has a plan. The agency would encourage “social distancing” and possibly cancel school and public meetings and advise keeping people home from work.
“We aren’t recommending those strategies now,” the health department said in a press release. “If that changes, we will quickly tell the public, businesses and other government agencies.”
This story was originally published March 3, 2020 at 3:17 PM.
