Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Grays Harbor County Public Health & Social Services Department
COVID-19 Call Center Hours:
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:00pm
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get tested for COVID-19?
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 you should get tested as soon as possible. If you have been exposed to someone positive with COVID-19 and become symptomatic, you should be tested right away. In general, if you have been exposed and no symptoms develop, scheduling your test 5 days after the exposure will decrease the chance of a false negative.
See list of local facilities offering COVID-19 testing to the public below.
Where can I get vaccinated?
- To schedule a first dose appointment with Grays Harbor County Public Health visit healthygh.org/covid-vaccine.To schedule a 2nd, 3rd, or booster dose apppointment with us, call (360) 964-1850.
- To find another provider visit vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/.
What should I do if I was exposed?
Please follow Grays Harbor's COVID-19 Exposed Guidance available below:
- What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
What should I do if I tested positive?
Please follow Grays Harbor's COVID-19 Confirmed Guidance available below:
What should I do if I have symptoms but have not been around anyone who has been diagnosed?
Please follow DOH's guidance below:
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
- Other less common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
When should I get tested for COVID-19?
Seek testing if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone who may be positive for COVID-19. You should get tested immediately if having symptoms, or 3-5 days after suspected exposure, even if you don’t experience any symptoms.
For a directory of testing sites, visit COVID-19 Testing Locations page.
What should I do if I'm awaiting test results?
While you are awaiting COVID-19 test results, you should stay home and away from other people including household members and animals in your home (self-isolate), even if you have very mild symptoms, and regardless of vaccination status. Monitor your symptoms and get medical help right away if your symptoms get worse. Before you get care, call your health care provider and tell them that you have COVID-19 symptoms. Put on a face covering before you enter the healthcare facility to protect others in the waiting room and exam rooms. If you have a medical emergency and need to call 911, tell the dispatch staff that you have COVID-19 symptoms. If possible, put on a face covering before emergency services arrive.
If you get your test results back as positive, and you have questions or need assistance, contact Grays Harbor County Public Health’s COVID-19 Resource Center at 360-964-1850. If you are unable to contact a support specialist right away, please leave a voicemail with your name, a good phone number you can be reached and a short message regarding your test results. A COVID-19 Resource Center specialist will contact you as soon as they can.
What should I do if I tested positive on an OTC test?
People who purchase over-the-counter (OTC) test kits and receive a positive result should call the state COVID-19 hotline, 1-800-525-0127 then press # (press 7 for Spanish), as soon as they receive results.
The hotline is available Monday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Tuesday to Sunday (and observed holidays) 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Language assistance is available.
If you are a resident of Grays Harbor County please contact the COVID-19 Resource Center at (360) 964-1850.
Where can I learn more about variants?
For the most updated information on variants visit DOH's COVID-19 Variants page.
What if someone doesn't have a safe place to isolate or quarantine?
Grays Harbor Public Health Incident Management Team has developed a process that (1) allows for the rapid identification of individuals who need support in order to isolate or quarantine successfully; and (2) provides emergency housing options for people to successfully isolate or quarantine as needed.
Isolation and Quarantine is funded by Washington State Department of Commerce grant funds. Grant funds are intended to address the COVID-19 needs of Grays Harbor residents needing a safe place to isolate or quarantine. This can include anyone experiencing homelessness, individuals living in multi-generational or multi-family housing. Grays Harbor current Isolation and Quarantine facility is located in Hoquiam.
If you need a safe location to isolate or quarantine, please contact Grays Harbor Resource Center at (360) 964-1850 and request to speak with a Case Investigator. A Case Investigator will ask a series of questions to get a better understanding of your basic needs and to apply the necessary supports during your stay.
What happens during a disease investigation?
When we receive notification of a confirmed case of COVID-19, we begin our disease investigation process.
We work with the patient and/or their representative to understand (1) where and how they may have been infected and (2) who they may have exposed while they were contagious.
We will ask the patient for the names and contact information for people that they had close contact with. We will also ask the patient where they went, including any time spent out in public places.
We notify everyone who had close contact with the patient and we ask them to monitor themselves for symptoms.
If we learn that many people in a community were exposed, and we aren’t able to contact each person individually, then we would notify people via newspapers and other media.
The disease investigation process may take a few hours or a few days to complete, depending on how many close contacts the patient had.
View an infographic that highlights how contact tracing works.
Download and print “COVID-19: What Is Contact Tracing?” infographic (English) (PDF)
Descargar e imprimir “COVID-19: Que es Rastreo de Contactos?” infografía (español) (PDF)
For more information on what a contact tracing interview is like, see:
- COVID-19 Contact Tracing: What Will They Ask Me? (I tested positive) - Available in additional languages
- COVID-19 Contact Tracing: What Will They Ask Me? (I was in contact with someone who tested positive) - Available in additional languages
What information will Grays Harbor Public Health share about people with confirmed cases of COVID-19?
Grays Harbor Public Health is required to safeguard people’s protected health information by law.
Information collected during a disease investigation is Protected Health Information (PHI) and is legally protected by The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. This act applies even during a pandemic such as COVID-19.
Please show compassion and support for individuals who are sick.
Respect their right to privacy.
Remember that statements made on social media can be hurtful to those who are being impacted by COVID-19.
Download "COVID-19 Contact Tracing: What Will They Ask Me?" overview information sheet from DOH.
Download and print “COVID-19 Contact Tracing: What Will They Ask Me?” Information Sheet from DOH (English) (PDF)
Descargar e imprimir “COVID-19 Rastreo de Contactos: Que me Preguntarán?” hoja informativa (español) (PDF)
What are the current COVID-19 mandates in Washington?
To stay up-to-date on Statewide COVID-19 information including mandates and orders visit the WA State Governor's page.
Visit In The News for the latest public health press releases, including COVID-19 information.
More information about COVID-19 is below.
Taking care of your whole self
What should I do if I am feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed?
Take care of your whole self.
Feelings of fear, anxiety or depression are common in times of uncertainty, including this current COVID-19 situation. Fear and anxiety about the disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions.
Below are some tools and resources that help people cope with stress and support their mental wellbeing. By caring for yourself and others, you will help make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.
Check out these resources to help support your mental health or that of a loved one:
- Care for Your Coronavirus Anxiety
- Free Online Therapy and Resources for Mental Health and Substance Problems (for people living in Grays Harbor County)
- Resources to Support Mental Health and Coping with the Coronavirus
- 60 Digital Resources for Mental Health
If you feel so overwhelmed that you struggle to get through the day, call your health care provider, therapist, or mental health provider and set up a telemedicine appointment.
Business resources
What should I do if I see a business or other facility ignoring the Governor's Stay Home, Stay Healthy order?
The state has created an online form for reporting businesses potentially violating orders.
The form is available at www.coronavirus.wa.gov.
I am a business owner and I have questions.
If you are a business owner or operator and have questions, you can submit your questions to the State online: https://coronavirus.wa.gov/how-you-can-help/covid-19-business-and-worker-inquiries.
Click here for COVID-19 Small Business Resources.
I am an employee and I have concerns about my health and safety at work.
Employee workplace health and safety complaints may be submitted to the Washington State L&I Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) call center at (800) 423-7233 or via email to adag235@lni.wa.gov.
How to help
What can I do to help myself and my community?
- Talk to your neighbors and make a plan for how you can help each other, like dropping off groceries.
- Keep your distance physically, but not emotionally. Let your loved ones know you love them! A text, a phone call, or video chat makes a difference. Keep your connections strong!
- Practice compassion. Remember to have compassion for yourself. This is a stressful time, with changes to events we looked forward to, potential job impacts of closures, and worry for our health and for our loved ones. Take a minute to breathe. You are doing your best!
Where can I volunteer to support COVID-19 response efforts?
- Visit Grays Harbor Public Health's Volunteer Opportunities page to learn more and submit your information.
- If you are a health practitioner please also complete and submit the Washington State Department of Health “Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Application”. The application, additional information, and Frequently Asked Questions are available at the Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 website.
- Volunteers should also consider registering with other community-based volunteer organizations that do critical work to serve family, friends, and neighbors such as the American Red Cross.
Parents and caregivers
How can I help kids cope with changes like school closures?
Ask kids how they feel about the school closures.
- Students may have strong, and even conflicting feelings about the school closures. Just listen!
Encourage your kids to stay connected with their friends. Can they text or call their friends? Can they use an App like Skype to connect with a younger friend or cousin and read them a book? Reading to a younger child is great learning for both the reader and child being read to.
Understand the basic information about COVID-19.
- If your kid asks you a question, be comforting, and tell the truth – if you don’t know the answer, say so.
Help kids cope with stress.
- Teach kids how they can protect themselves and their loved ones against illness.
- Encourage your kid to talk about how they are feeling. As they hear that some people are at higher risk of severe COVID-19, they may worry for their loved ones like grandparents. Help them stay connected by texting, calling, or video chatting with them.
- Remember that kids may have different reactions to stress. Be patient and understanding.
- For some kids, change in routine can be difficult. Help them by creating a new routine, even if it is one small thing that is consistent each day.
Take care of yourself too.
- Keep things in perspective. You will want to keep up to date on news about the outbreak, but set limits on how much time you spend reading or watching news about it.
- Keep yourself healthy. Drink plenty of water, get enough exercise, sleep and rest, and avoid excessive caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol.
- Relax your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, and do fun activities.
- Talk about your feelings with loved ones, and stay connected. A text, a phone call, or video chat makes a difference. Keep your distance physically, but not emotionally!
Find ways to help each other.
- Talk to your friends and neighbors about how you can help each other. For example, drop groceries or take-out on a neighbor’s doorstep.
- Consider what child care options are available. Try not to rely on people (such as those over age 60 or with underlying health conditions) who are at high risk for severe disease from COVID-19.
- Only purchase what you need. It is important for people who are at high risk of severe COVID-19 to reduce the amount of time they spend in crowds. By leaving enough things like toilet paper, soap, and canned goods, those individuals will be able to get the supplies they need in one trip rather than multiple trips. That will help them, and everyone in our community, stay healthy.
Download and print info sheet about social distancing and helping kids cope with stress (in English) (.pdf)
Download and print info sheet about social distancing and helping kids cope with stress (in Spanish) (.pdf)
Get more information
Where can I find more information?
Washington State Department of Health website (doh.wa.gov)
- Current statewide COVID-19 case counts
Washington State Coronavirus Response website (coronavirus.wa.gov)
- Washington State's official COVID-19 site.
Washington State call center 1(800) 525-0127 or text "coronavirus" to 211-211
- For questions about what is happening in Washington and how the virus is spread
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website (cdc.gov)
General information about COVID-19
Guidance for healthcare providers, businesses, childcare, community organizations, and others
Washington State Governor website (governor.wa.gov/issues/covid-19-resources)
- Links to COVID-19 resources from Washington State agencies
- Statewide proclamations (Stay Home, Stay Healthy)