Breaking: Second confirmed case of coronavirus in Walla Walla
March 24, 2020
Walla Walla County health officials confirmed a second case of novel coronavirus in Walla Walla this afternoon.
A Walla Walla resident in her 20s tested positive for the virus, according to a press release from the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health. She is now under home isolation and will be for fourteen days, until her fever subsides for 72-hours.
“We understand our community wants details about each case,” Meghan DeBolt, the director of the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health, said in the press release. “However, we (the DCH) will not report on the exact location of the case. We want the community to know that we are doing a thorough investigation, instructing each case and contact to stay home under isolation, and we are calling them daily for monitoring purposes.”
The Walla Walla County Department of Community Health assures Walla Walla residents that they are doing everything they can to control the spread of COVID-19.
“Do not feel helpless – as a community we can control the spread of this virus,” the press release stated. “We need to stay home, stay safe. For those who are part of our communities’ essential services, thank you and please be careful.”
At the same time, they acknowledge that community members have to play a part in stifling the spread of the virus.
“We encourage all residents of our community to take this very seriously,” the department said in their press release.
The department went on to urge the Walla Walla community to stay home, stay informed and take every precaution to avoid getting sick.
If you are sick and plan to seek care, the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health advises you to call in before going in for care so the healthcare facility can engage in efforts to prevent exposing others. For urgent medical needs, they recommend calling 911. The department also suggests calling their COVID-19 hotline at 509-524-2647.
Frank • Mar 31, 2020 at 11:37 am
Some of the Whitman students remaining in town seem unconcerned. A week ago 20-30 students were having a party on a lawn across from campus on Isaacs. This past weekend around 15 students walked past my house in a group as I was doing yard work.
I live close to campus so I see a lot of Whitman students. That said, based on what I’ve seen in Walla Walla the group who appears to be taking the virus least seriously is Whitties.