To protect everyone’s health and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Board is implementing the following measures to keep the public, our Board members and staff safe during this pandemic. Slowing the spread of the virus calls for patience, cooperation, and understanding. These social distancing measures are actions we can take now to help further reduce ones risk of being exposed to COVID-19. If you have questions about these practices, please call us at 360-236-4100.
Board Meetings
- We have decided to hold our public meetings online.
- Board members, presenters, and staff will all participate remotely.
- The public may observe and listen to the meeting. Individuals may submit verbal comments during the specified public comment and rules hearing segments. Information on how to access the online meetings is available on each meeting's web page, draft and final agendas.
- If you have print or written comments you would like to share with the Board, please email us your copies.
- If you would like to receive meeting notices, rules alerts, and other information from the Board, please subscribe to our email distribution list.
Board Rulemaking Activity
- We will alter the pace of some rulemaking projects to ensure the work is moving forward at a respectful pace that allows continued public engagement and keeps our partners, staff, and members of the public healthy and safe. To stay updated on current rulemaking, visit the rules web page.
- Learn more about our power and duties including a complete list of rules that includes communicable and certain other diseases, notifiable conditions, and the imposition and use of isolation and quarantine.
Our goal for implementing these new measures is to protect the health and safety of Washingtonians during this unprecedented time while continuing our commitment to inform the public and engage our communities in the work we do. We support the Governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order requiring people to stay home; his guidance issued about public meetings; his recent emergency proclamation that limits the size of events and gatherings; and the event guidelines released by the State Department of Health as ways to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
COVID-19 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, or how the virus is spread, please call 1-800-525-0127. Phone lines are currently staffed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m, seven days a week. Please note that this call center can not access COVID-19 testing results. For testing inquiries or results, please contact your health care provider.
- The Washington State Joint Information Center (JIC), based at Camp Murray, has launched a new COVID-19 website, coronavirus.wa.gov, which brings together resources and information from DOH and various state agencies involved in the COVID-19 response. The website will be updated regularly and is intended to provide the public a directory of credible information about this rapidly evolving incident, as well as resources available to help with the impacts. The JIC is staffed by communications personnel from numerous state agencies. The new website will provide public health information, updates related to economic impacts, social service supports and more.
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Misinformation about coronavirus and COVID-19 can create fear and hostility that hurts people and makes it harder to keep everyone healthy. We’re stronger as a community when we stand together against discrimination. Take advantage of these resources from the Department of Health to prevent, interrupt, and reduce stigma.
