Information About COVID-19 (the coronavirus) and How to Reduce Chance of Exposure

Dear Ingeniux Employees,

On January 21, 2020 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Washington State Department of Health announced the first case of COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus, often referred to simply as “the coronavirus”) in the United States in Washington State. Since then, additional cases have been reported in Washington, Oregon, California and other states. On February 29, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency. Here is a quote from Inslee’s statement:

“This means our state can respond quickly and effectively. Our priority now is to slow the spread of this virus. Our health care professionals say the easiest way to do that is to practice good hygiene – wash your hands often, sanitize frequently touched surfaces and stay home when you're sick. Preventing future cases will require the work of all of us.”

Here is the latest news from the Seattle Times on the state of COVID-19 in Washington State.

As an Ingeniux employee your health is of paramount importance. Please take a moment to read these facts about the virus, ways to reduce your chance of exposure and how you can protect others. 

Facts About Coronaviruses and COVID-19

What Is a Coronavirus: Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that usually cause mild respiratory illnesses such as the common cold but have also caused more serious illnesses like SARS. A new coronavirus is responsible for COVID-19 and was not identified in humans before December 2019.

What is COVID-19: In layman’s terms, COVID-19 is like a very bad flu.

How Does the Virus Spread: COVID-19 is spread from person-to-person via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people nearby, can be inhaled into the lungs, or can land on frequently touched surfaces and transmitted to the mouth or nose via hand.

What are Common Symptoms of COVID-19: Common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Aches and pains in the body

Current Risk Level: The general American public is unlikely to be exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, so the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low. However, the following groups have an increased risk of exposure:

• People who live in Washington State (risk is still considered relatively low as of March 2, 2020)
• Those who care for patients with COVID-19
• Those who have contact with persons with COVID-19
• Travelers returning from affected international locations (like China, Italy, Iran)

How to Reduce Your Chance of Exposure and Protect Others

It is important that all Ingeniux employees do what they can to reduce their chance of exposure to COVID-19 and protect their colleagues from contracting the virus.

Follow these simple, everyday steps to reduce your chance of exposure and protect others:

1. Stay home if you are sick or have a family member who is symptomatic. Staying home when sick will greatly benefit your coworkers, your communities, and the general public.
2. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
4. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue (then throw it into the trash) or with the crook of your elbow. Do not use your bare hands to cover a cough or a sneeze.
5. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
6. Take care of your overall health. Stay up on vaccinations, including the influenza (flu) vaccine. A healthy diet and exercise help your body stay resilient.
7. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. For information about handwashing, visit the CDC’s Handwashing website.
8. If soap and water are not readily available, use a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands.
9. If you are travelling, check the CDC’s Traveler’s Health Notices for the latest guidance and recommendations by country. Avoid travel to areas greatly affected by COVID-19. Check yourself for symptoms of acute respiratory illness before starting travel.

If you have questions about COVID-19, the Washington State Department of Health has established a call center for the public. To reach them, call 1-800-525-0127 and press #.

Company Policy Regarding COVID-19

We will continue to keep all Ingeniux employees informed as the status of COVID-19 in the United States – and in Washington State in particular, where Ingeniux has two office locations – continues to evolve.

If you are planning to travel for work soon, we suggest you have a candid conversation with your manager in which you address any concerns you might have about COVID-19 and discuss ways to reduce your chance of exposure while travelling.

We recommend Ingeniux employees seek a medical evaluation for COVID-19 if they are:

• Ill with a fever, cough, or have difficulty breathing AND have traveled from an affected area in the last 14 days.
• Ill with fever, cough, or have difficulty breathing AND have been identified by Public Health as a recent close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case or had recent close contact with someone who is being evaluated for COVID-19 infection.

Seattle Office Management Procedures Regarding COVID-19

We will be implementing preventative measures regarding office cleanliness to keep Seattle office employees as healthy as possible. We ask that all employees assist in this initiative by following the recommended respiratory etiquette, hand hygiene and self-quarantine practices listed above.

Walla Walla Office Management Procedures Regarding COVID-19

We will be implementing preventative measures regarding office cleanliness to keep Walla Walla office employees as healthy as possible. We ask that all employees assist in this initiative by following the recommended respiratory etiquette, hand hygiene and self-quarantine practices listed above.

Helpful Resources

Here is a list of resources where you can learn more about COVID-19.

• Washington State Department of Health Fact Sheet
• About COVID-19 (CDC)
• COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment Information
• COVID-19 Information for Travel
• Traveler’s Health Website