Last fall we saw many respiratory virus infections and hospitalizations, including SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza virus (flu). This fall, we want to look at what to expect when it comes to respiratory viruses and some prevention steps you can take.
Ask Miss Rona is a Q&A series started on Public Health’s Instagram to respond to community questions related to COVID-19. Questions from the public and are answered by experts at Public Health. Check out our Instagram at @kcpubhealth for more questions answered by Miss Rona.
Public Health – Seattle & King County supports the data-informed decision by healthcare organizations to require masking in their facilities when thresholds for increased respiratory illness activity are reached. Read more below.
This week, the CDC recommended that everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Eric Chow, our communicable disease expert, explains where you can get it, how cost will be covered, and why it’s important to get the new vaccine, even if you’ve already had COVID or been vaccinated.
You may have heard reports recently of increases in cases of COVID-19 in many parts of the U.S. We talked with Public Health’s Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Dr. Eric Chow, about what’s happening with COVID-19 in King County right now.
Free COVID-19 vaccinations for all ages will be available Friday, June 9 through Monday, June 12 at this site, no appointment needed. This is a great opportunity to get caught up with the bivalent booster, especially for people ages 50 years and older and people who are immunocompromised who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19.