In order to provide our patients helpful information about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus / COVID-19, here is some general information as well as details specific to those patients seeking care at Cancer Care Northwest (CCNW).
Because the situation is rapidly evolving, please reference Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or Washington State Department of Health websites for the latest information.
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person, and in some recent instances in apparent community spread. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, Hebei Province, China, in late 2019 and has now been detected in more than 50 countries.
COVID-19 has similar symptoms to the flu, which include coughing, fever, sore throat and difficulty breathing. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure.
The virus is thought to spread in the following ways:
If you already have symptoms of suspected COVID-19 – with or without recent travel to China, South Korea, Japan, Italy or Iran – please contact the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) for further instruction and testing. Please note, Cancer Care Northwest does not have influenza or COVID-19 testing kits available.
The CDC recommends the below everyday preventative actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
For the most up-to-date information, please visit the CDC's 'How to Protect Yourself' webpage.
This is an emerging and evolving situation. For the most updated guidance, symptoms and information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.