Walla Walla, Washington. The Washington State Department of Health issued new guidelines Monday outlining what people should do if they become ill with an upper respiratory virus.
According to the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health, the new standards are not intended to be followed while working or visiting a healthcare facility or a location where the population is at high risk. Long-term care institutions and homeless shelters are among the situations where people may not have stable immune systems or frequent access to health care.
People in Washington are still expected to obey their local health jurisdiction, employment, business, or school policies, which may include special instructions for those facilities.
These guidelines are intended to equip people with information on how to avoid the spread of respiratory infections and safeguard others around them. While some people are unconcerned about COVID-19, RSV, or the flu, it is vital to remember that others have weakened immune systems, and the viruses can be fatal for those with underlying disorders.
One of the most significant modifications in the rules is how long someone should be at home and away from people after contracting an infection such as COVID-19, influenza, RSV, or other viruses. Instead of being isolated for five days, persons can resume regular activities if their symptoms have improved and they have not had a fever without fever-reducing medicine for at least 24 hours.
According to the DOH, those infected with upper respiratory infections should avoid spending time with people who have weakened immune systems or are more likely to become ill. Even if someone feels better, that doesn’t imply they’re not contagious. According to that rule, people should remain away from high-risk people for 10 days after signs of illness appear or until they receive a negative COVID-19 test.