King County’s Marshallese community has every reason to be skeptical of health advice from the federal government. As a community health worker, Jiji Jally is working hard to encourage her fellow Marshallese and other Pacific Islanders to get it.
Happy Year of the Ox!
We welcome the ox, who is steadfast and hard-working, kind and logical. And like the ox, we should be steadfast and kind in our determination to keep loved ones safe while we celebrate the New Year.
Public Health has a recently enhanced vaccine data dashboard that shows which populations have received the vaccine so far. The data helps shape Public Health strategies to center equity in how we focus our limited resources. The dashboard also gives the public access to information to hold us accountable to equity principles.
Over the past year, we have learned that COVID-19 spreads easily within households, possibly making our homes one of the riskiest places. You can even spread the virus without having any symptoms. Now that more contagious variants have been detected in the United States, including one in Washington state, this may be even more true.
There’s more evidence that wearing a mask protects everyone – the person wearing the mask (personal protection) and others around them (source control). Although masks alone are not 100% effective, they are a powerful tool. The key is to use a mask that’s well made and fits snugly against your face.