PORT TOWNSEND — With the coronavirus increasingly prevalent in recent weeks, Jefferson Healthcare has relaunched its dedicated COVID-19 nurse consult phone line.
Anyone suffering severe respiratory symptoms — difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain — should go to the hospital Emergency Department, but those with milder symptoms should first call the nurse consult line: 360-344-3094.
COVID symptoms include fever or chills, coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, body aches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, diarrhea and nausea.
After phoning the COVID line, patients can expect to hear back from a nurse within 24 to 48 hours. Nurses will triage symptoms and schedule testing at the Jefferson Healthcare drive-through station, which is open seven days a week.
“Anyone who suspects they have been exposed or has symptoms should isolate to prevent potential spread,” spokesperson Amy Yaley said.
During the past week, 19 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Jefferson County, bringing the total to 512 reported cases since the pandemic response began.
In Clallam County, 49 people have tested positive in the past week, raising the reported total to 1,668 cases.
Twenty-one people on the North Olympic Peninsula have died of the disease.
