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  PACIFIC COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COVID-19 NEWS & RESOURCES
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How Can I Stay Safe When Going Grocery Shopping?

5/27/2020

4 Comments

 

There are several steps you can take before, during and after you go grocery shopping to keep yourself and others safe.

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Before you go

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  • Only make needed trips. Don't go to the store if you're sick, and be extra cautious if you or a loved one is more likely to get sick from COVID-19.
  • Wash your hands.
  • Consider ordering groceries online for pick up or delivery.
  • Check for special hours. Many stories offer special shopping hours for people over 60, pregnant people, and those with medical conditions

At the store

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  • Wear a cloth face covering that covers your nose and mouth.
  • Use hand sanitizer or an antiseptic wipe to clean the handles of a grocery cart or basket.
  • Keep your distance of at least six feet between you and others, even in the checkout line.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes.
  • Don't touch your face.
  • Save some for your neighbors. Only buy what you need so there will be enough for everyone.

When you get home

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  • Wash your hands.
  • Practice food safety. Don't disinfect your groceries. Wash your fruit and vegetables as you normally would.

For more information, visit

Coronavirus.wa.gov
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Talking to loved ones about the importance of staying home

5/22/2020

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Convincing your loved ones to stay home can be a challenge. Here are some tips on having a conversation about staying home and staying healthy.

Tell them why you are concerned 

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Ask them to put your mind at ease by adjusting their normal activities. Appeal to their desire to help. Try suggestions like, “I would be very happy if you ordered your groceries to be delivered instead of going to the store.”

Make it personal 

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Rather than explain the situation in numbers and statistics, talk about how their choices impact others. Put a face to the people who are affected by the coronavirus. Talk to them about the rewards of good choices they can make now. For example, "Staying how the next few weeks means we can still go to the family reunion next year." 

Don't blame

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Avoid statements like, "I can't believe you went to the store," or "what were you thinking?" Be empathetic and non judgmental by asking open-ended questions. Ask them what they are hearing and listen closely. If you can identify why they don't want to stay home, you can offer alternatives to help them cope.

Teach them 

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This could be an opportunity to teach your loved ones how to use online food delivery services and chatting technology. Technology can help your loved ones stay home, have their needs met, and feel better.

Reassure them that they are not alone

In Washington and around the world, we are all in this together. Let them know that social distancing does not have to mean social isolation. Encourage them to go outside - as long as they stay 6 feet away from others. Help your loved ones write letters, email friends and family, and try video chatting.

Reassure them that you are there for them. 

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Stay Home. Stay Healthy

Visit the Stay Home, Stay Healthy page for additional information to support your loved one.

Spread the facts

Flyers you can use
Articles about COVID-19 you can share with your loved one.
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Face Masks or Cloth Face Covering

5/21/2020

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How well does my cloth face mask protect me from COVID-19?

In general, we wear cloth face masks because they protect other people from getting COVID-19 from us, in case we have it and don't know. 

Cloth face masks work best if they have several layers of woven fabric, we have clean hands, and we stay at least six feet away from other people.

The Do's and Dont's of Cloth Face Coverings

Although there is currently no statewide requirement to wear face coverings, Public Health - Seattle & King County recently directed all residents to King County to wear cloth face coverings in public places. This seems like a good time to review the Do's and Don'ts of wearing cloth face coverings. 
DO cover your face with a couple layers of cloth while in public places.

DO wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before you put your face mask on and after you take it off.

DO wash your cloth face covering in a washing machine after a day's use.

DO take a cloth face covering with you if you are hiking or visiting a park. Although you do not need to wear one outside, you may find that you need to come within 6 feet of someone else on a trail. At that point, put your cloth face covering on, say hello, and carry on.

DON'T wear surgical-grade masks or N95 respirators. We need to reserve those for health care and other frontline workers. 

DON'T think that wearing cloth masks means we can gather in large groups of people. At best, a cloth face mask covering is just one added level of precaution. It doesn't really help unless we are also washing our hands, staying home when we are sick, and practicing physical distancing. 

DON'T wear a cloth face mask covering while exercising outdoors. It's not dangerous, just annoying and not necessary. 

DON'T touch your cloth face covering after you put it on. Try not to touch your face at all.

DON'T put a cloth face mask on a child under the age of 2, or on a person with a disability that keeps them from being able to remove it.

DON'T worry that a cloth face covering might restrict your oxygen. It's not airtight. If you ever feel like you're having trouble breathing, remove the cloth face covering and sit down. If the feeling persists, call 911.


How to Wear a Cloth Face Covering 

Cloth face coverings should...

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Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face

Be secured with ties or ear loops

Include multiple layers of fabric

Allow for breathing without restriction

​Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape. 


CDC on Homemade Cloth Face Coverings 

The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g, grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community - based transmission. 

CDC also advises the use of simply cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.

Cloth face coverings should not be placed on children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidelines. 

Cloth Face Covering FAQs

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Should cloth face coverings be washed or otherwise cleaned regularly? How regularly? Yes. they should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use.

How does one safely sterilize/clean a cloth face covering? A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a face covering.

How does one safely remove a used cloth face covering? Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face covering and wash hands immediately after removing. 


Sew and No Sew Instructions

Sewn Cloth Face Covering

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Materials:
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  • Two 10"x6" rectangles of cotton fabric
  • Two 6" pieces of elastic (or rubber bands, string, cloth strips, or hair ties)
  • Needle and threat (or bobby pin)
  • Scissors
  • Sewing Machine​​

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Tutorial:

​1. Cut out two 10-by-6-inch rectangles of cotton fabric. Use tightly woven cotton, such as quilting fabric or cotton sheets. T-shirt fabric will work in a pinch. Stack the two rectangles; you will sew the mask as if it was a single piece of fabric.

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​2. Fold over the long sides 1/4 inch and hem. Then fold the double layer of fabric over 1/2 inch along the short sides and stitch down.
3. Run a 6-inch length of 1/8-inch wide elastic through the wider hem on each side of the mask. These will be the ear loops. Use a large needle of a bobby pin to threat it through. Tie the ends tight. Don't have elastic? Use hair ties or elastic head bands. If you only have string, you can make the ties longer and tie the mask behind your head. ​
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​4. Gently pull on the elastic so that the knots are tucked inside the hem. Gather the sides of the mask on the elastic and adjust so the mask fits your face. Then securely stitch the elastic in place to keep it from slipping.

Quick Cut T-shirt Face Covering (no sew method)

Materials:
  • T-Shirt
  • Scissors

Tutorial:
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Bandana Face Covering (no sew method)

Materials:
  • Bandana (or square cotton cloth approximately 20" x 20")
  • Rubber bands (or hair ties)
  • Scissors (if you are cutting your own cloth)
​
Tutorial:
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More Information 

  • Important Information About Your Cloth Face Coverings
  • ASL Video Series: Easy DIY Cloth Face Covering
  • How To Make Your Own Face Covering Video (Spanish)
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How to Support a Loved One Going Through a Tough Time During Covid-19

5/19/2020

11 Comments

 
Article by Rubina Kapil - March 20, 2020

If you or someone you care about feels overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression or anxiety, or like you want to harm yourself or others call 911.
You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text MHFA to 741741 to talk to a Crisis Text Line counselor.

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​Isolation from friends and family, job loss and death are challenges we’re all facing during these days of COVID-19.

 You are not alone. COVID-19 is affecting families across the world.

We encourage you to stay connected with your loved ones while practicing physical distancing. It’s important that you support one other during this difficult time, especially if your loved one may be facing a mental health concern.

Use tips from the MHFA curriculum to reach out to someone who might need you.

  1. Treat the person with respect and dignity. Listen non-judgmentally, and respect the person’s privacy and confidentiality.
  2. Offer consistent emotional support and understanding. In difficult times, we all need additional love and understanding. Remember to be empathetic, compassionate and patient.
  3. Have realistic expectations. Accept the person as they are. Tough times can make it harder than usual to do everyday activities like cleaning the house, paying bills or feeding the dog.
  4. Give the person hope. Remind your loved one that with time and treatment, they will feel better and there is hope for a more positive future.
  5. Provide practical help. Offer help with overwhelming tasks, but be careful not to take over or encourage dependency. For example, offer to bring groceries over.
  6. Offer information. Provide information and resources for additional support, including self-help strategies and professional help.

Several tips for what NOT to do are:

  1. Don’t tell someone to “snap out of it” or to “get over it.”
  2. Don’t adopt an over-involved or overprotective attitude toward someone who is depressed.
  3. Don’t use a patronizing tone of voice or a facial expression that shows an extreme look of concern.
  4. Don’t ignore, disagree with or dismiss the person’s feelings by attempting to say something positive like, “You don’t seem that bad to me.”

Many health professionals believe self-help strategies can be helpful when you’re feeling depressed or anxious. It is a good idea to discuss the appropriateness of specific strategies with a mental health professional.

Some strategies include:

  1. Self-help books based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Researchers have sought to develop a CBT-based guided self-help intervention that may prove useful for adults with intellectual disability in addition to depression or other mental health challenges for which CBT has been shown to be helpful.
  2. Computerized therapy. Self-help treatment programs delivered over the internet or on a computer; some are available free of charge.
  3. Relaxation training. Teaching a person to relax voluntarily by tensing and relaxing muscle groups; some programs are available for free online.
  4. Complementary therapies. Scientific studies of complementary therapies such as acupuncture, meditation, mindfulness, yoga, exercise and dietary supplements have shown that these therapies do make a difference for depression.
If you’re still not sure what to do, reach out to your primary care physician. This person can help you with determining the best next steps for mental health support strategies, resources or treatments.

​Thank you for choosing to #BeTheDifference for yourself and your loved ones during this difficult time.
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Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Vaccinated

5/18/2020

0 Comments

 
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Pacific County Asks for Your Help with Survey

5/14/2020

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14th, 2020
 
Writer: Chief Criminal Deputy Pat Matlock, PIO
Pacific County Emergency Operations Center
COVID-19 Response
Direct Response: (360) 875-9407 / (360) 642-9407 or pceocOps@co.pacific.wa.us

​

Pacific County Asks for Your Help with Survey

​SOUTH BEND, WA. – The Pacific County Emergency Operations Center in coordination with Pacific County government officials is conducting a very important survey to gather information about the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Pacific County. We want to know about your experiences during the COVID-19 outbreak. This survey is very user friendly and simply asks you to answer a series of very short questions related to the COVID19 pandemic.
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Please know that your participation is voluntary. You may choose to skip any question or end the survey at any point. The survey data is subject to public records; however, survey answers are anonymous. This survey does not ask you for any identifying personal information. The deadline for the survey to be complete by is May 25th, 2020. Links to the survey are listed below.

Click here for English:

Click here for Spanish:

 
These links as well as accurate and up-to-date sources of online information can be found at Pacific County Department of Health & Human Services. Click here. 

For more information, please contact the Direct Response line at (360) 875-9407 / (360) 642-9407 or pceocOps@co.pacific.wa.us
                                                                       
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Fraudulent Unemployment Claims On The Rise

5/13/2020

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Fraudulent Unemployment Claims On The Rise

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On a nationwide level, including in Washington State, there have been many reports that scammers are fraudulently applying for COVID-19 unemployment compensation. In addition, reports are surfacing of fake sites being set up to steal claimants' personal information. 

Employment Security would never request personal information, such as an individual’s Social Security number, outside of the ESD secure internet site.

If you become aware of or suspect you have been a victim of unemployment fraud..

Report it to ESD through one of the following methods:
  • Toll-free number: 800-246-9763
  • Faxing a letter to: 360-902-9771
  • Email esdfraud@esd.wa.gov (preferred method of notice)
  • Completing an online benefits-fraud reporting form on ESD’s website: https://www.esd.wa.gov/unemployment/unemployment-benefits-fraud​

Once you notify ESD of the fraudulent claim using one of the methods listed, ESD will respond with next steps.

If you become aware of or suspect you have been a victim of identity theft...

It is recommended that you file a report with your local law enforcement. You can further report suspected employment-related fraud to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), information is available at their website: https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/employment-related-identity-theft
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Drop in vaccination leaves children vulnerable to other diseases

5/11/2020

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​Read the full news release below. 
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NEWS RELEASE

​May 8, 2020 
Contact: 
Joint Information Center
253-512-7100
wajic@mil.wa.gov


​

Drop in vaccination leaves children vulnerable to other diseases


Camp Murray, WA
 — Immunization rates among children appear to be dropping during the COVID-19 pandemic. This leaves children and communities at risk.

Providers in Washington’s Childhood Vaccine Program reported they administered 30 percent fewer vaccines to 0-18 year olds in March of this year compared with the same month in previous years. In April, preliminarily we are seeing a 42 percent decrease, but that number may change as April data continue to be reported.

The amount of vaccine ordered by providers in March also fell both in Washington state and nationwide.

“We are concerned that babies and kids aren’t getting all the vaccines they need to protect them,” said Dr. Kathy Lofy, state health officer at the Washington State Department of Health. “Decreasing vaccinations increases the risk that we could see an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease.”
Parents and guardians should make an appointment right away for any immunizations their child has missed. Parents may be nervous about going in to a clinic. But health care providers are making clinics safe for families to visit.

“Now is the time to catch up. Talk to your doctor, nurse, or clinic about ways you can get vaccinated,” Lofy said.

The department and the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage providers to ask any patients who have missed well-child visits or are behind on vaccinations to come in. Prioritize care and vaccination of infants and young children 0 to 24 months of age, followed by children age 4 to 6 years. Find more guidance for providers.

For more information on COVID-19, visit the Department of Health’s website or call 1-800-525-0127. You can also text the word “coronavirus” to 211-211 to receive information and updates on your phone wherever you are.
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