March 5, 2020
Everywhere you turn there is new information coming out about Coronavirus and COVD-19. The city of Lakewood encourages its residents to make sure the information you consume is factual and from trusted public health agencies like the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, the state Department of Health, or the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To-date, there are no reports of Coronavirus in Pierce County, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD). That could change, but currently TPCHD is encouraging people to stay calm and take action now to stay safe.
That includes:
- Wash your hands! Do so often. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your face. Especially with unwashed hands. Your eyes, nose, and mouth are open doors for germs.
- Avoid people who are sick. Steer clear of illnesses if at all possible.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes. Hold a tissue over your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Then throw that tissue away and, again, WASH YOUR HANDS!
- Clean things. Disinfect objects and surfaces often.
- Stay home if you’re sick. This isn’t the time to tough it out and leave your home if you’re not feeling well.
- Call first. If you or a family member are sick and plan to seek care, call first. Healthcare partners need to prepare for people who are showing symptoms—or direct you to the appropriate resource.
- Stay informed. Follow and share trusted sources of accurate public health information. The TPCHD website is a great place to start: www.tpchd.org/coronavirus.
If Pierce County does experience a spread of COVID-19, the health department is ready and will inform the public how to proceed.