LocalHealthGuide - Part 143

March 5, 2020 Coronavirus

I Lived Through SARS and Reported on Ebola. These Are the Questions We Should Be Asking About Coronavirus

Here’s what ProPublica eporter Caroline Chen is focusing on to keep her reporting as accurate and clear as possible.

Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab. Credit: NIAID-RML

March 5, 2020 Coronavirus

20 new COVID-19 cases in King County, bringing total to 51

While everyone can take steps now, people in high risk categories are urged to pay special attention to recommendations to avoid large gatherings of people.

March 5, 2020 Health Insurance

Kreidler orders Washington health insurers to waive deductibles and copays for coronavirus testing

Insurers must also allow a one-time early refill for prescriptions and Suspend any prior authorization requirement for treatment or testings of COVID-19.

March 5, 2020 Coronavirus

Wash. workers’ comp to include quarantined health workers, first responders

L&I will provide benefits to these workers during the time they’re quarantined after being exposed to COVID-19 on the job.

Rare disease population survey demographics individual icon

March 5, 2020 Coronavirus / Public Health

States Have ‘Immense’ Powers to Fight Coronavirus

They can close schools, businesses, and transit systems. They can cancel concerts, sporting events and political rallies. They can call up the National Guard.

March 5, 2020 Coronavirus / Nursing Homes / Seniors

As Coronavirus Cases Grow, So Does Scrutiny Of Nursing Home Infection Plans

Health inspections regularly turn up lapses in infection control at nursing homes, which are cited more than any other type of deficiency.

March 5, 2020 Coronavirus / Emergency Preparedness / Public Health

During A Pandemic, States’ Patchwork Of Crisis Strategies Could Mean Uneven Care

Experts say only a handful of states have done the work necessary to prepare for such worst-case scenarios.

March 4, 2020 Coronavirus

Officials issue new recommendations to reduce spread of COVID-19 as 9th death confirmed in the area

This is a critical moment in the growing outbreak of COVID-19 in King County and these measures can potentially impact the spread of the disease, officials say.

March 4, 2020 Coronavirus / Infectious Disease

Why so many epidemics arise in Asia and Africa

Most of the pandemics have at least one thing in common: They began their deadly work in Asia or Africa. The reasons why may surprise you.

March 3, 2020 Coronavirus / Public Health

Two more COVID-19 deaths in King County, bringing total to eight deaths

In addition, seven new COVID-19 cases confirmed in King County, raising total number of cases to be identified in the county to 21.

March 3, 2020 Coronavirus

How Twitter could help reduce the impact of COVID-19

By providing users with pertinent and reliable disaster-related information, Twitter has the potential to reduce the impact of a disaster.

March 3, 2020 Child Health / Coronavirus / Newborn and Infant Health

Worried about your child getting coronavirus? Here’s what you need to know

Parents are understandably concerned. But keep in mind that comparatively few children have tested positive for the virus, and deaths in children are rare.

This photograph depicts a microbiologist in what had been the Influenza Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while she was conducting an experiment inside a negatively-pressurized biological safety cabinet (BSC) within the Biosafety Level 3-enhanced laboratory. The airflow into the BSC helps prevent any airborne virus particles from escaping the confines of the cabinet, and as part of her personal protective equipment (PPE), she was wearing a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR), which was filtering the air that she was breathing.

March 3, 2020 Coronavirus

One sure thing about COVID-19: No telling how many people have it

It has been three months since the first cases of a new coronavirus appeared in China, but we still don’t know some basic information about this outbreak.

March 2, 2020 Breast Cancer / Radiology

AI improves radiologists’ readings of mammograms, UW study finds

Machine-learning algorithms could help improve the accuracy of breast cancer screenings when used in combination with assessments from radiologists,

March 2, 2020 Coronavirus

Fourth Case, First Death from Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Snohomish County

New case is a female in her 40s, currently hospitalized with underlying health conditions. Man in his 40s hospitalized at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland, has died.