March 5, 2020
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A Message from Newcastle City Manager Rob Wyman
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Dear Newcastle Community,
As you are most likely aware, COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) has made its way to the United States and here in King County we currently have over 50 confirmed cases with nine deaths. These numbers will most likely rise and so it is important that we work together to take steps to reduce the spread of this disease.
Here in the City of Newcastle, our staff is in regular contact with local health officials. We’re coordinating closely with our partners at Public Health — Seattle & King County and continue to follow their recommendations to limit exposure to COVID-19. As a result, several upcoming events have been postponed including the March 12 Newcastle Diamond Awards, this evening’s Youth Arts Exhibition Reception, this Saturday’s Celebrating Asian Arts event at the Newcastle Library, and next week’s Newcastle Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
We want to make sure that our residents can still access City services, while at the same time taking measures to help prevent exposure. I’ve encouraged all of our staff members to limit external trainings and meetings, and stay home if they are sick. Internally, City leaders are evaluating contingency plans in the event City Hall is forced to close and/or City Council or Commission meetings must be postponed. At this time, City Hall operations are proceeding as normal. If that were to change, I want to assure you that essential services, including police and fire, will continue uninterrupted.
Let's work together as a community and commit to taking steps to reduce transmission of this illness. Please do your part by washing your hands often and staying home from work or school if you are sick. If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular doctor first. Do not go to the emergency room unless essential. Emergency rooms need to be available to serve those with the most critical needs.
Additionally, please remember that discrimination based on ethnicity or ancestry will make the situation worse. Having Chinese ancestry – or any other ancestry – does not make a person more vulnerable to this illness. Coronavirus doesn't recognize race, nationality nor ethnicity. Misinformation about coronavirus can create fear and hostility that hurts people and makes it harder to keep everyone healthy. Newcastle is stronger as a community when we stand together against discrimination.
The City is committed to keeping you informed as new developments arise. Your main source for Newcastle-related updates will be our website
newcastlewa.gov/coronavirus
, but we encourage you to also follow the latest news and guidance from Public Health — Seattle & King County at
kingcounty.gov/covid
.
Thank you,
Newcastle City Manager Rob Wyman
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March 4, 2020
Official King County Public Health Recommendations
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Yesterday, state and local officials announced new recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. PLEASE take a moment to read the recommendations. Also, note that this situation is fluid and things are constantly changing. For the latest updates, please refer to the linked webpages mentioned above.
Public Health – Seattle & King County is taking proactive steps to protect the health of our community by making recommendations that are meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in our community and reduce the number of people infected. These steps are recommended to extend through March 31st, 2020. We are continually re-evaluating.
We understand these actions will have a tremendous impact on the lives of people in our community. Public Health is making these recommendations in consultation with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) based on the best information we have to protect the public’s health. This is a critical moment in the growing outbreak of COVID-19 in King County when such measures can potentially impact the spread of the disease.
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Guidance for People at Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19 Illness
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Public Health recommends that people at higher risk of severe illness should stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible, including public places with lots of people and large gatherings where there will be close contact with others. This includes concert venues, conventions, sporting events, and crowded social gatherings.
People at higher risk include people:
- Over 60 years of age
- With underlying health conditions including include heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes
- With weakened immune systems
- Who are pregnant
Caregivers of children with underlying health conditions should consult with healthcare providers about whether their children should stay home. Anyone who has questions about whether their condition puts them at risk for novel coronavirus should consult with their healthcare providers.
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Guidance for Workplaces and Businesses
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Employers should take steps to make it more feasible for their employees to work in ways that minimize close contact with large numbers of people.
Employers should:
- Maximize telecommuting options for as many employees as possible.
- Urge employees to stay home when they are sick and maximize flexibility in sick leave benefits.
- Consider staggering start and end times to reduce large numbers of people coming together at the same time.
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Guidance for Event and Community Gatherings
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If you can feasibly avoid bringing large groups of people together, consider postponing events and gatherings.
If you can’t avoid bringing groups of people together:
- Urge anyone who is sick to not attend.
- Encourage those who are at higher risk for coronavirus to not attend.
- Try to find ways to give people more physical space so that they aren’t in close contact as much as possible.
- Encourage attendees to maintain good healthy habits, such as frequent hand washing.
- Clean surfaces with standard cleaners.
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Public Health is not recommending closing schools at this time unless there has been a confirmed case in your school. The reason we are not recommending school closures at this time is because children have not been shown to be a high risk group for serious illness from this virus. In addition, when some schools briefly closed during the H1N1 influenza pandemic, we learned that many children still gathered in group settings and still had exposure to one another. As much as possible, children should be allowed to carry on with their education and normal activities.
Public Health –Seattle & King County also respects an individual school’s decisions about closures or postponement of activities as each school knows the needs of their community best.
Some children have underlying health conditions, such as weakened immune systems, that put them at higher risk. Caregivers of children with underlying health conditions should consult with healthcare providers about whether their children should stay home.
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Guidance for People who are Sick
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Stay home when you are sick. Do not go out in public when you are sick. Avoid medical settings in general unless necessary. If you are ill in any way call your doctor's office first before going in.
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Guidance for the General Public
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- Even if you are not ill, avoid visiting hospitals, long term care facilities or nursing homes to the extent possible. If you do need to visit one of these facilities limit your time there and keep 6 feet away from patients.
- Do not go to the emergency room unless essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs. If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular doctor first.
- Practice excellent personal hygiene habits, including washing your hands with soap and water frequently, coughing into a tissue or your elbow, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Stay away from people who are ill, especially if you are at higher risk for coronavirus.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects (like doorknobs and light switches). Regular household cleaners are effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless you''ve just washed your hands.
- Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, eat healthy foods, and manage your stress to keep your immunity strong.
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The Newcastle email newsletter is published before every City Council meeting. Learn more about the newsletter, see an archive of past newsletters and sign up to receive it at
newcastlewa.gov/newsletters
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