Friends, neighbors –
It’s so important to me that my community (and all Washingtonians!) feel safe and healthy, *and* know that their elected officials and public health officials are working tirelessly on their behalf. Given rising concerns about COVID-19, I want to make sure you have access to all the info you need to take the best care of yourself and your family, friends, and neighbors.
The House and Senate are both working hard on bills that will allocate increased funds to state agencies and local governments so that they have the resources they need to respond to COVID-19. These would give the Department of Social and Health Services funding to increase nursing staff to help address this growing need. We’ll continue to work with DOH, DSHS, and other state agencies to identify what the Legislature can do to ensure we have the necessary resources. Senators will also get an official briefing tomorrow (3/4) and I’d be happy to share with you what I learn. But the real experts (and heroes) here are the medical professionals working so hard to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to help anyone affected get better as soon as possible. That’s why I wanted to post a list of helpful links and other words of wisdom from health experts here on my website.
- Here’s a link to the Center for Disease Control‘s page on COVID-19. Information straight from medical experts is available there.
- You can also head to the Washington State Department of Health‘s site for thorough and updated information on all the steps being taken in Washington to keep Washingtonians healthy.
- The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is another great place to go for information. Head to their page for a comprehensive list of hotlines you can call, FAQs, and brochures available in 7 different languages.
- Kitsap Public Health District also has a wonderful, recently-updated page packed with information about best practices and what to do if you feel sick.
- Other best practices: wash your hands frequently and well (and sing the chorus of your favorite song while you scrub so that you wash them long enough!), stay home if you’re feeling sick, and show compassion and support for those who have been directly impacted by this disease. Now’s the time to take care of each other!
- Still have questions? You can call the Washington State Department of Health at 1-800-525-0127 and press #.
Please share any and all of this page with your neighbors. I am always happy to connect you to resources and information, and if you have thoughts about how our community can best prepare and what we can do to take care of one another better, please don’t hesitate to email me at Emily.Randall@leg.wa.gov or call me at (360) 786-7650.
All my best,
