SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 11: The Space Needle is almost completely obscured by smoke from wildfires as a man talks on his phone at Gas Works Park on September 11, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. According to reports, air quality is expected to worsen as smoke from dozens of wildfires in forests of the Pacific Northwest and along the West Coast descends onto the region. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images
Coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath are all symptoms of wildfire smoke, which has blanketed the Seattle region over the past several days as wildfires burn up and down the West Coast.
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But, along with the wildfires, the coronavirus pandemic remains a very real threat in King County and across Washington. And people with the virus can show a lot of the same symptoms as those impacted by the wildfire smoke -- in particular, a cough and shortness of breath.
So, how do you tell the difference between the two?
It can be hard to tell whether someone is experiencing symptoms of smoke exposure or the coronavirus without testing or talking with their healthcare providers, Dr. Jeff Duchin of Public Health -- Seattle & King County said. According to the Washington State Department of Health, symptoms of wildfire smoke can include: eye, nose and throat irritation, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, headaches and aggravation of existing lung, heart and circulatory conditions.
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"Symptoms such as irritation of the eyes and throat that resolve after leaving a smoky environment are unlikely to be from COVID-19," Duchin said in an email. "Fever, chills, muscle or body aches and diarrhea are not symptoms of smoke exposure."
People experiencing any of those symptoms should get tested for the virus or contact their healthcare provider, Duchin said. He emphasized it is best to contact a healthcare provider if someone is experiencing respiratory symptoms including dry cough, sore throat or difficulty breathing, as those can be caused by both smoke and the virus.
"If you don’t have a healthcare provider, and your symptoms don't get better after leaving the smokey area, Public Health advises that you seek testing to rule out the possibility of COVID-19," he said in an email.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised that people should check the list of symptoms associated with the coronavirus to further assess what their symptoms align with. For people experiencing symptoms such as fever or muscle and body aches, that is an indication it is likely something more than wildfire smoke exposure.
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People should call their doctor if they are experiencing serious wheezing or shortness of breath and call 911 if they are "really struggling to breathe," DOH said.
The department also warned exposure to wildfire smoke can make symptoms from the coronavirus worse, and can make people more susceptible to contracting respiratory infections, including COVID-19.
To stay safe from wildfire smoke, health officials are urging people who can to stay inside as much as possible and keep their windows closed. In Seattle, beaches, parks, play fields and boat ramps are all closed through Wednesday due to unhealthy air quality. Several businesses and restaurants relying on outdoor seating have also temporarily closed their doors until air quality improves.
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"In this period of time, obviously what we're encouraging people to do is, the safest thing for them is to try to stay indoors with their windows closed and try to keep the air as clean as you can in your home," said Secretary of Health John Wiesman during a news conference Tuesday.
It could be a few more days until the region sees some relief from the smoke.
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency said Tuesday air quality in the region was still ranging from "unhealthy" to "very unhealthy." It is expected to stay that way until late Thursday or Friday, when the agency said a "storm should clear out most of the smoke."
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