Health Department counsels on coronavirus

The Whitman County Health Department is advising residents to be aware and take basic precautions for the potential arrival of the coronavirus in the county.

The disease, also know as COVID-19, began in China, with the first confirmed case in Washington state on Jan. 21. It has since spread to 18 cases, with six deaths, all of which have been outside of Eastern Washington.

“For otherwise healthy folks, it's not worse than seasonal flu,” said Troy Henderson, Whitman County health director.

People at risk to die from the disease, Henderson explained, are from a vulnerable population.

“Predominan...