A new coronavirus, COVID-19, was identified as the cause of a cluster of severe pneumonia cases that emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019. On Jan. 21, 2020, China announced that healthcare workers have been infected — at least fourteen by recent counts. Although much has been learned about COVID-19 in a few weeks, there is still a lot we don’t know.
SEIU has prepared a fact sheet for healthcare workers that addresses:
- What is known about COVID-19, including symptoms and transmission
- Protections for workers
- What employers should do to prepare
- Updates, resources and additional information
Washington Resources
The Washington State Department of Health has established a call center to address questions from the public. If you have questions about what is happening in Washington, how the virus is spread, and what to do if you have symptoms, please call 1-800-525-0127 and press #.
Visit the department’s COVID-19 information page to learn about:
- Federal Quarantine Guidance
- Local Health Jurisdiction and Healthcare Provider Resources
- School Resources
- Workplace and Employer Recommendations
- Novel Coronavirus Fact Sheet – Available in 11 languages
- Number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Washington (updated daily)
- Frequently asked questions
As a union of healthcare workers, we respect and care for people of all nationalities and ethnicities and realize that screening for the coronavirus must be based upon an individual’s likely exposure to the virus — not their language or skin color. We will support and encourage respectful treatment of all patients and team members during this challenging period. SEIU will continue to monitor the outbreak and provide additional materials to help members protect themselves and their communities.