Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources

What are we doing?

Health care providers notify Cowlitz County Health & Human Services after a person tests positive for COVID-19. We then call the sick person to see how they're doing. We ask them to stay home until they're no longer considered contagious and to share some information with us, including:

•  If they have symptoms
•  If they live or work in a high-risk setting (such as a skilled nursing facility, adult living facility, hospital, jail, homeless shelter, food processing facility, large manufacturing facility, or first responder/law enforcement agency)
•  When their symptoms started

We ask COVID-19 patients who live or work in high-risk settings who they may have been in close contact with while they were contagious. Close contacts are then asked stay home and/or away from others for 14 days so if they develop COVID-19, they don’t get others sick. We may also work with the employer or facility to do additional contact tracing and notification. 

For COVID-19 patients who work in or attend in-person K-12 learning, we work with school leaders to notify close contacts and ask them to stay home and/or away from others for 14 days. Staying home the whole time is important because people can spread COVID-19 before they know they're sick. 

All other COVID-19 patients are referred to our Toolkit for Positive Cases. They are asked to notify people close to them who may have been exposed and ask them to stay home and/or away from others for 14 days. They can share our Toolkit for Close Contacts with those who may have been exposed.

People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to quarantine, but should monitor for symptoms 14 days after their last known exposure. Someone is considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after getting their second dose of the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or 2 weeks after getting the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Face Coverings

Masks are an effective way to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, but with more people being vaccinated, they are not needed in every situation. If you’re fully vaccinated, you do not need to wear a mask in most settings. However, it’s a good practice to keep a mask in your pocket in case you are asked to wear one. Visit the state Department of Health's website to learn when you need to wear a mask.

Additional Guidance
•  What to do if you have confirmed or suspected COVID-19: (English), (Spanish), (Russian)
• What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19: (English), (Spanish), (Russian)
• What to do if you have symptoms of COVID-19 and have not been around anyone diagnosed with COVID-19: (English), (Spanish), (Russian)
• Recommended guidance for daily COVID-19 screening of employees and visitors: (English), (Spanish), (Russian)
•  Interim guidance for implementing safety practices for critical infrastructure workers who may have had exposure to a person with suspected or con­firmed COVID-19: (English)

Protect Yourself

Everyday practices to prevent colds, influenza and other respiratory illnesses can also protect people against coronaviruses, including COVID-19. The state Department of Health recommends people take the following actions to keep themselves healthy:

• Find a COVID-19 vaccine
• Wear a face mask
• Wash your 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
• Practice social distancing, stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people who are not from your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
• Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands
• 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