By now, you have probably received multiple emails, notices, and alerts from Governor Jay Inslee of Washington State, and from your health care provider’s office regarding the development of the spread of COVID-19.
As each of the clients of Seattle Direct Counseling meet with me, I have been asking about their concerns. We have parents with children who will now be figuring out how to work from home and make sure their children complete their online courses for the next six weeks. We have employees who don’t have jobs that can be conducted from home. We have people who are caregivers to their aging parents, and are concerned about what they can do to keep their loved ones healthy and virus-free.
The current guidelines for what you should do if you or a loved one should become sick with respiratory symptoms, such as a cough, fever, and fatigue (with more rare instances of GI distress in the form of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea) can be found on the King County Public Health website.
The current guidelines as of 03/20/2020 include:
- Frequent handwashing and use of hand sanitizer
- Cancel and reschedule andy non-urgent medical visits
- Social distancing, by putting six feet between you and others in public
- All public gatherings of 50 or more are cancelled until further notice. Update: as of 03/20/2020, the new CDC guidelines has changed this number to 10 people or more.
- All smaller gatherings of 10 or more will need to carefully meet sanitation requirements
- Travel bans in place: China, South Korea, Italy. UK and Europe have also recently been added.
- Isolate from the public for 14 days if you have been exposed to a person who has tested positive for COVID19, or you suspect that you have. Call your doctor if you have symptoms and await instructions on having a test administered.
- Work from home and keep children who have been sent home from gathering with other kids like it’s a “snow day.”
These guidelines will likely be changed as this is a dynamic situation, and restrictions on movement will also happen. As of 03/29/2020, social distancing will continue at least through April 30, 2020.
It is considered safe for you to go outside and take a walk; just keep your distance from others (six feet), and stay away from sick people.
All-Hands On Deck
Earlier in March 2020, the WA Department of Health issued a request for all available healthcare professionals with valid licenses to turn in an application to volunteer for work related to the care of those with COVID-19.
As a person holding two healthcare licenses, I turned in my application. What this means for my community is that it may become necessary to reschedule some appointments if I am asked to step into the hospital, clinic, care center, or other locations.
While I will do everything possible to not interrupt the flow of care that comes from my virtual office, I am anticipating some changes that while temporary, may inconvenience some of you.
There is a true joy in doing what is right, what is good, and what is needed. I hope you’ll join me in supporting our healthcare providers who work tirelessly to care for others.
Special Priority for Healthcare Providers
If you are a healthcare provider in need of brief therapy to help you process the many emotions, changes, and increase in stress you are facing, I am offering special priority for all healthcare providers and first responders in the U.S.
The focus of sessions will be crisis oriented as well as encompassing grief and vicarious tramatization.
Thank you for your service. If you have need for crisis-oriented brief therapy sessions (present centered and goal oriented), please call and leave a message; I’ll get back to you shortly.
