OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington State Governor Jay Inslee tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday morning.
It’s his third time getting the virus. His symptoms are mild after being exposed before getting a booster shot on Wednesday, according to his staff.
COVID is one of three contagious respiratory viruses that health officials are keeping a close eye on as they brace for a possible busy virus season.
KIRO 7 spoke with people in Renton on how they’re feeling.
“Everybody should be aware of what’s going on and just be careful. Just do not think it’s one big lie. It’s here and it’s here to stay so we should all take precautions,” said Renton resident Flo Gichamba-Chambliss.
“I think I’m kind of neutral, if you take care of yourself, you shouldn’t have a really bad time.” John Johnson said COVID, the flu, and RSV are all on his radar, but “There’s a lot of stuff going on these days so I think that it’s a concern but it’s kind of like on the back burner,” said resident Lois nix.
While the fall respiratory viruses are at the backs of some minds, it’s at the forefront for people working in Washington hospitals.
“What’s really challenging this year is that there’s a moderate or medium risk that we’re going to see all three viruses circulating all at once,” said Harborview’s Associate Medical Director, Dr. John Lynch.
Neither Dr. Lynch, nor the CDC predicts one virus will overtake the healthcare system like COVID did initially, but the three spiking at once would strain any hospital.
“Many hospitals are extremely full with patients throughout the spectrum of need for reasons that remain somewhat unclear, whether that’s delays in care or something else,” said Dr. Lynch. “What we’re looking at is a fairly reasonable risk of the demand sort of outstripping resources.”
Whether all three spikes at once, or the virus spikes are staggered will determine how thin hospitals have to spread their care.
According to the State Department of Health’s Respiratory Illness Dashboard, between September 17 and September 23 in Washington, 35 ICU beds were dedicated to COVID patients, that’s 7 more on average than the previous week.
Flu patients took up less than ten beds, but Dr. Lynch said it’s only a matter of time until that virus spikes too.
“We’re all experiencing kind of a covid wave right now. It’s definitely lead to increased hospitalizations, ER visits, clinic visits,” said Dr. Lynch. “We’re definitely going to see influenza spike like we did last year.
In terms of RSV, Harborview didn’t see a huge spike last year. RSV targets the very young and older populations.
Dr. Lynch said that while Harborview didn’t see a huge spike in that virus last year, Seattle Children’s Hospital saw an unprecedented number of kids admitted with RSV.
“When those systems are completely maxed out around responding to respiratory viruses, that is a big problem because we don’t have a bunch of other Seattle Children’s hospitals around, we have one,” said Dy. Lynch.
This is the first fall an RSV vaccine is available, but not everyone is eligible. Earlier this year it became available for people over 60 years old. Just this week the RSV vaccine was approved for pregnant people between 32 and 36 weeks gestation.
“What we know is it not only protects the individual from respiratory virus or other illness but the immune response that the parent, the mom has will be passed on to the baby and those are the really highest risk folks for RSV disease,” said Dr. Lynch.
He also said to check with a primary care doctor to make sure you’re eligible before getting the RSV vaccine.
It is safe to get both the COVID and flu vaccines in one sitting.
Dr. Lynch also recommends that if you get sick, first take a COVID test to rule that virus out.
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