What to know about COVID-19 in Washington State

Note: We have updated our list of resources. Visit our new article Information for Washingtonians during Covid-10 Outbreak.

In the face of the coronavirus outbreak, AARP is providing information and resources to inform, protect older Americans here in Washington and nationwide.

Update: March 21, 2020

Stay Informed - Stay Healthy : Coronavirus Tele-Town Hall

On Saturday, March 21, AARP held a live, statewide tele-town hall event with Governor Jay Inslee, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and State Secretary of Health Dr. John Wiesman.

Our state leaders provided updates and answered listener questions about the virus, how it affects older adults, and what scams to watch for during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Many resources were shared and are listed below.

Resources

Washington State Coronavirus Hotline (1-800-525-0127) - For general concerns and questions about COVID-19, please call the Washington State Novel Coronavirus Call Center at 1-800-525-0127. Phone lines are currently staffed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

AARP Coronavirus Response - Aggressive steps are being taken during the illness' outbreak to inform and protect older Americans. AARP's site provides the latest advise and resources, including our weekly live Coronavirus Information Tele-Town Hall on Thursdays at 10 a.m (PT).

Fraud Watch Network Call Center - Our team of volunteer fraud fighters have the real-world tips and tools to help protect you and your loved ones. If you need assistance with a scam, you can call toll-free Monday through Friday to talk to one of our fraud fighters at 877-908-3360. You can also report a scam by visiting our Fraud Watch Network.

Coronavirus.wa.gov - This is Washington State’s official COVID-19 site, aggregated and maintained by the state Joint Information Center. Find daily statistics, multilingual resources, Washington State Hotline (1-800-525-0127) and more.

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee - Stay in touch with the latest announcements on the Governor's What's Happening Now section.

Washington State Department of Health – The Washington Department of Health provides a daily update of the total number of cases in the state and the percentage of cases by age range. In addition, the site includes the latest news alerts and numerous fact sheets, guides and resources.

Washington State Office of the Attorney General - Attorney General Bob Ferguson urges Washington residents to contact their office to report Covid-19 scams. File complaints online or contact their call centers Monday - Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT.

• 1.800.551.4636 (in Washington only)
• 206.464.6684
• 1.800.833.6388 (Washington State Relay Service for the hearing impaired)

Washington Secretary of State - Be wary of charity scams capitalizing on the coronavirus outbreak. Be sure to check out unfamiliar organizations. Visit the Washington Secretary of State's online search tool ensure your donation is going to the a reputable charity.

WA Aging and Long-Term Support Administration - Find information for family members who have a loved one in a care facility.

Eldercare Locator - The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging connecting you to services for older adults and their families. You can also reach them at 1-800-677-1116, Monday - Friday from 9am - 8pm ET.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the most comprehensive repository of information and resources regarding the current status of the outbreak across the U.S.

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Update: March 13, 2020

On Thursday, March 12, AARP Washington held a one-hour live phone Q&A with King County and Washington State experts Ingrid Ulrey, the Public Health Policy Director for Seattle & King County and Dr. Marisa D’Angeli, Epidemiologist from the Washington State Department of Health, Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology. Full audio of the call is available here or you can visit our YouTube page to listen to the live call and learn more about how to protect yourself and your loved ones.

To stay current about the status of the coronavirus, we have included some county, state and national resources in this posting.

Phone Numbers

• For general concerns and questions about COVID-19, please call the Washington State Novel Coronavirus Call Center at 800-525-0127. Phone lines are currently staffed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

• If you are in King County and believe you were exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19, or if you’re a healthcare provider with questions about COVID-19, contact our novel coronavirus call center: 206-477-3977. The call center will be open daily from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM PT.

Websites

• AARP - How the U.S. is preparing for the spread of COVID-19, plus expert tips to stay healthy

• King County Public Health – Updated daily, this site provides current statistics and recommendations for residents in King County. There is also a link to sign up for e-mail notifications when new information is posted to the site.

• Snohomish County Public Health - The Snohomish Health District is providing daily updates on case counts in Snohomish County. The site also includes resource information and links to schedule a free virtual visit for respiratory illness patients.

• Washington Department of Health – The Washington Department of Health provides a daily update of the total number of cases in the state and the percentage of cases by age range. In addition, the site includes the latest news alerts and numerous fact sheets, guides and resources.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the most comprehensive repository of information and resources regarding the current status of the outbreak across the U.S.