The CDC has moved Whatcom County from low to medium on its COVID-19 Community Tracker. Here are some important steps you and your family can take to stay healthy, protect our most vulnerable, and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community:

• Stock up on at-home COVID-19 tests and use them whenever you have symptoms or might have been exposed. 

  • We give out free at-home COVID-19 tests at our community vaccine clinics. Click here for a list of our May clinics. 

  • You can also order free tests online and have them delivered to your house. Order from https://sayyescovidhometest.org/  and from https://www.covid.gov/tests. 

  • If you have health insurance through an employer or Marketplace, your insurance will pay you back for 8 at-home tests each month for each person on your plan. Click here to learn about insurance requirements for free tests or reimbursement.
    
• Stay home if you are sick. Folks, we can’t stress this one enough! Whether you have COVID-19 or some other illness, stay home if you can and isolate yourself away from others. 
  • Remember that at-home COVID-19 tests may not detect very small amounts of the virus. They are most effective when you have symptoms. If you get a negative test result on the first day that you feel sick, isolate yourself and test again in a day or two. Click here to find out what to do if your test is positive.
    
    
• Stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Vaccination significantly reduces your risk of severe illness. Click here for vaccine and booster eligibility information. 
  
  
• Wear a mask. Masks remain strongly encouraged for everyone. People at high risk of severe illness should think about wearing a mask and other precautions. A higher-quality mask like an N95 or KN95 is most effective.