The April 8 countywide data updates from the Snohomish Health District show a steady increase in the total number of cases over the reporting period. While the pandemic continues to build, it is not doing so as quickly as in the last week of March, with the latest data revealing an increase of only 39 new cases countywide, the lowest figure since March 25.
The number of Snohomish County residents who have been ill and recovered continues to rise as well, with 10 more people falling into that category April 7.
Overall, the data suggest that while Snohomish County’s efforts at social distancing, staying home, washing hands and disinfecting are making measurable progress in beating back the virus, it’s likely to be with us for some time– meaning it is more important than ever to continue these efforts.
— By Larry Vogel
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From the Washington State Department of Health
In his COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, the governor has asked us to stay home as much as possible. We can still enjoy the outdoors near our homes, and go outside to exercise, and some of us in essential jobs are still traveling to work. But, for most of us, we are spending a lot of time inside our homes.
The environment inside our homes can have a big impact on our health. Allergens, mold, and chemicals in indoor air and dust can trigger asthma attacks, tripping hazards may cause one of our elders to have a fall, and children can be exposed to harmful chemicals in cleaning products or to lead from dust in older homes. While we’re spending so much time in our homes, let’s look at some of the ways we can make our homes as healthy as possible.
Keep your home dry
Water damage and moisture can lead to mold growth. Mold growth can damage your home and trigger asthma attacks. Keep your home dry to control mold growth. Make sure to fix any water leaks, and repair leaky roofs and plumbing. On dry, sunny days, open the windows and doors to increase air flow in your home. This also helps to improve indoor air quality! Run the exhaust fans in your bathroom, kitchen, or laundry area when you are cooking, showering, or doing laundry. If you have a leak, be sure to clean and dry water-damaged carpets, clothing, bedding, and upholstered furniture within 24 to 48 hours.
Keep your home clean
House dust collects toxic chemicals from our homes and can expose us to those chemicals. To reduce toxic contaminants trapped in indoor dust, take your shoes off when you come in the house, and dust, wet mop, and vacuum regularly. In older homes, dust can contain lead from lead paint. Dust is the leading cause of lead poisoning among small children. After you are done cleaning, make sure to move your cleaning products to a locked cabinet out of reach the of children. When you have the option, choose safer cleaning products with the EPA Safer Choice Product Label.
Keep your home safe
To reduce the risk of injury, fix loose hand rails and other hazards around your home. If you have small children, install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Carbon monoxide can kill without you seeing, hearing, or smelling anything amiss. Install a carbon monoxide detector and smoke alarm on every floor of your home.
Search for “EPA Do-it-yourselfers” to learn how best to stay safe during home repairs. Test your home for radon, a naturally occurring, dangerous gas. You can find a test kit online or at your local hardware store. If you have a well, remember to test it every year for contaminants like arsenic and nitrates.
You can find more information about keeping your home healthy on our website. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has created a helpful maintenance checklist for healthy homes.
Other helpful information
Check out the Snohomish County Cases By City graphs as well as global stats by country, compiled by Edmonds resident John Rumpelein.
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