Novel coronavirus

COVID-19 is here to stay for the foreseeable future. But everyone can take steps to protect themselves and their loved ones against COVID-19:

  • Get vaccinated and boosted. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 illness. Check with your health care provider or local pharmacy for vaccine appointments.
  • Follow CDC recommendations to prevent getting sick and to prevent spreading illnesses to others. 

Everyday practices to prevent colds, influenza and other respiratory illnesses can also protect people against COVID-19:

  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes. 
  • Stay home and away from others when sick.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.

Need help?

Care Connect Washington can help people affected by COVID-19 connect to available resources such as unemployment benefits, subsidized housing or child care, food assistance programs such as SNAP or WIC, Apple Health, and more. 

Call Care Connect Washington at 1.833.453.0336 to be connected to a local care coordinator. Language assistance is available.

What to do if you test positive for COVID-19

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you can spread the virus to others. If you have COVID-19 or another respiratory illness, such as influenza, take steps to help prevent the spread of the virus to others in your home and community:

  • Stay home and away from others (including other people you live with who are not sick).
  • Only go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours:
    • Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
    • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
  • When you go back to normal activities, take additional precautions for five days, such as taking steps for cleaner indoor air, masking, physical distancing, and testing when around other people indoors.

COVID-19 testing

Getting tested for COVID-19 can help you decide what to do next, like getting treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness and taking steps to lower your chances of spreading the virus to others.

COVID-19 testing is available at most health care facilities. At-home COVID-19 tests are a convenient way for people to test themselves for current COVID-19 infection. For a list of FDA authorized at-home tests and updates on expiration dates, visit the FDA website.

COVID-19 therapeutics

People who test positive for COVID-19 and are at higher risk for severe illness may benefit from 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 health care provider will help determine if COVID-19 medications are appropriate for you.

Additional resources