Spokane health officials testing high-risk coronavirus patients, urging others with symptoms to treat at home

Spokane County residents who are experiencing the symptoms of respiratory illness tied to the coronavirus but who aren’t in a high-risk population should take the same steps as those experiencing the flu, Spokane Health Officer Bob Lutz said Sunday.

“There are certain groups that we are most concerned about,” Lutz said at a news briefing Sunday morning that aired on Facebook Live. Those who are over the age of 60, have underlying health conditions or who work in health care and may have been exposed to the virus will be prioritized for testing at a drive-up clinic at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, which opened to the public Friday and will remain open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., as resources allow.

On Sunday, just two cars were in line to be screened at about noon, although a volunteer said there was a short line when clinic opened at 10 a.m.

A nationwide shortage on testing supplies has prompted some prioritization of who will get tested for the virus. Lutz said that many cases do not require hospitalization, but emphasized that its effects can be felt by patients of all ages.

“What we are seeing, however, by looking at both national and international data, is that maybe with the exception of very young children, every age group is affected,” Lutz said. Health officials in Idaho said Sunday they had confirmed three new cases in patients in northern Idaho who were younger than 40.

The Whitman County Health Department reported Sunday a woman in her 20s there had tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus. The woman has recovered and is in isolation at home, according to a Whitman County news release, and officials are working to determine whom she had contact.

Those who aren’t part of the high-risk population who aren’t tested should remain in their homes, rest and take over-the-counter medication to relieve symptoms, which can include prolonged fever, respiratory pain and in some new cases sore throat, Lutz said Sunday.

Officials are urging those experiencing symptoms to remain in isolation until they’ve been without a fever for three days, or if they’ve been free of symptoms for 10 days, whichever is longer, Lutz said.

The health officer also said that there’s no evidence that the virus can be transmitted by food, noting that the novel coronavirus is believed to be spread by respiratory droplets. That’s why officials are urging the public, and in some areas mandating, that people remain six feet from each other to prevent its spread.

Testing at the fairgrounds does not require a written referral, Lutz said. Patients need only meet face-to-face with their provider or receive a virtual consultation before traveling to the site to get tested, he said.

The Health District and regional emergency officials plan to hold a daily briefing at 10 a.m. to update the public on the response to the virus. The updates can be seen on Facebook by visiting facebook.com/SpokaneCovidResponse.

Also on Sunday, President Donald Trump approved a disaster declaration for Washington state, authorizing additional federal money to be spent on crisis counseling and “emergency protective measures,” according to a news release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.