Info Service: Grays Harbor Public Health (GHPH) – Phone Script regarding COVID-19
Grays Harbor County Public Health & Social Services Department
This information may be helpful for: Leadership, Communications, Public Relations, Reception
For your situational awareness, we are sharing our phone script. People who call Public Health during regular hours or after-hours can access this information if they want to hear more about COVID-19. We have it recorded in both English and Spanish. We will change our message if we receive notification that we have a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 in Grays Harbor. Otherwise, the message will be updated every Friday and Monday.
SCRIPT:
This is information concerning the symptoms and evaluation of Coronavirus (COVID-19) as of March 6, 2020. This message will be updated as information changes: Currently there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Grays Harbor County.
COVID-19 is circulating in some communities in Washington. Other respiratory viruses, including influenza, are also circulating in Washington. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Influenza causes the same symptoms as COVID-19.
If you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath but have not been around anyone who has confirmed COVID-19, the likelihood that you have COVID-19 is fairly low.
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing AND:
are age 60 years or older, OR
are pregnant, OR
have a medical condition,
call your doctor. They may want to monitor your health more closely or test you for influenza.
If you do not have a high-risk condition and your symptoms are mild, you do not need to go to the
doctor and you do not need to be tested for COVID-19. You should drink plenty of fluids, rest, and take pain and fever medication as needed. There are currently no medications to treat COVID-19.
Follow the steps outlined next to help prevent your infection from spreading to people in your home and
community.
Clean your hands often, by either washing them with soap and water or using hand sanitizer.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, your sleeve, or a face mask.
Regularly clean all “high-touch” surfaces such as door knobs.
Avoid sharing personal household items.
Monitor your symptoms. If you need medical attention, call ahead before visiting your
doctor so that they can take steps to keep other people from getting infected.
Stay home until it has been 3 days after your fever is gone and your other symptoms are better.
EPI NEWS is faxed to healthcare offices during events of public health significance. Please share or post so that others may see this. Sign up for Epi News by email at: lleitz@co.grays-harbor.wa.us.
Health Alert: Immediate action needed
Health Update: Updated information on Alert or Advisory
Health Advisory: May require immediate action
Info Service: Not of an emergent nature