BELLINGHAM, WA – The Whatcom County Health Department (WCHD) is reporting a second lab confirmed case of the 2019 novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in a Whatcom County resident. This case is a woman in her 40s who self-isolated after being notified that she was a close contact of a lab-confirmed positive case from another county. 

The Whatcom County Health Department is conducting a follow-up investigation, which includes talking with the individual about where she was during the infectious period and who she may have come in contact with. The Health Department will directly communicate with individuals identified as a close contact of the person and provide direction on how to protect their health and that of the wider community.  Close contacts are defined as contacts who were with the individual for more than 10 minutes in a space of 6 feet or less. 

With an increasing number of cases in Washington State and the U.S., the risk to the general public is increasing. The risk to the local community is being assessed regularly and public health recommendations will be updated, as needed, based on the current risk.

For more information on novel coronavirus

This is an emerging outbreak with rapidly evolving information. Updates will be made as new information is available on the DOH website (https://www.doh.wa.gov/) and Whatcom County Health Department’s website (https://www.whatcomcounty.us/covid). These websites include information for individuals, community organizations, schools and childcare facilities. Websites are being updated as new information becomes available. 

Questions for WCHD can also be emailed to [email protected] 

The Washington State Department of Health has established a call center to address questions from the public. If you have questions about what is happening in Washington state, how the virus is spread, and what to do if you have symptoms, please call 1-800-525-0127 and press #.