— from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray —

Numbers: As of 11:59 p.m. on May 1, there are 15,003 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington state [14 in San Juan County], an increase of 366 cases in the last 24 hours. Visit the Department of Health’s website for cases by county, demographics, and more.  

Stroke and heart attack concerns: Emergency medical services and hospitals report seeing fewer stroke and heart attack patients seeking emergency care because of COVID-19 fears. That’s alarming because rapid treatment is crucial in these cases. Agencies and facilities have procedures in place to safely transport and treat emergency patients while minimizing the risk of coronavirus exposure. We’re encouraging the public not to delay, and to call 9-1-1 immediately if they have or witness symptoms. 

Interested in volunteering during disasters and significant events like COVID-19? Register with the Washington State Emergency Registry of Volunteers (WAserv) to partner with public health and others who need assistance in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Turning the dial: The good news is, what we’re doing is working. Because we have been doing a great job physically distancing, we have prevented many, many people from getting infected with COVID-19, and we have prevented many deaths. Because our collective efforts are working, we now have an opportunity to shift our approach to controlling this virus. Read the full article.