VashonBePrepared: COVID Testing, Digital Safety, and How to Call for Help

With the summer wave of COVID-19 cases continuing, questions about how to obtain COVID-19 home test kits are increasingly emerging.

Free at-home COVID tests used to be widely available. That’s no longer the case, since the federal government lifted its official declaration of a state of emergency over the pandemic last year. So what to do?

You can buy COVID tests right here on Vashon. They are sold at Vashon Pharmacy, IGA, and Thriftway. Demand is high, so it’s best to check who has the tests in stock the day you want to buy them.

You can also buy tests online at places like Amazon, Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart. The cost of a single test ranges from $7 to much higher. You’ll want to shop around.

If you have health insurance, some plans cover up to eight tests per month. Call your provider to learn about your options. Also, be aware that some insurance companies ask you to purchase the kits and then file a claim for reimbursement. Contact your health insurance provider for details about COVID test kit benefits.

If you don’t have health insurance and don’t meet the income requirements, sign up for Apple Health at tinyurl.com/AppleHealthSignUp. In addition to many other health insurance benefits, Apple Health covers the cost of two tests per month for each patient covered by your insurance.

If you’re heading off-island, there are several locations in our area where you can get free COVID tests covered by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) from vending machines operated by testandgo.com. Visit testandgo.com/kiosk-locator for locations.

You may have a few tests on hand, but you may not know if they have expired. Many kits have had their expiration dates extended for months. Check the expiration date of your COVID test kits at tinyurl.com/TestExpirationCheck.

If you test positive, there are important steps you can take to reduce your risk of severe illness and prevent the spread of COVID. We covered this topic in last week’s edition of VashonBePrepared, which you can view at conta.cc/3Wj4pjY.

Need Help? 988 Suicides and Crises Lifeline

Two years ago, a new three-digit telephone number was launched to provide quick access to a national helpline for people at risk of suicide.

On the second anniversary of 988, the National Association for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) completed a study that demonstrated the effectiveness of this strategy.

NAMI reports that more than 10 million contacts have been made since 988 launched two years ago. About two-thirds of callers surveyed reported that they received the help they needed, a significant improvement over the same statistics from the first year of 988 services.

However, the survey shows that only two-thirds of Americans know about the 988 crisis line. In addition, less than a quarter of those surveyed are familiar with the services offered by the number. NAMI has promised to raise awareness and educate people about the importance of mental health care.

Report food poisoning

Reporting food poisoning and filing food safety complaints just got easier. DOH has launched a new online tool, the Foodborne Illness Notification System (FINS).

The new website tinyurl.com/FoodborneIllnessReports will help local health authorities identify sources of foodborne illness and respond to outbreaks more quickly, reducing the risk of future guests getting sick.

Food poisoning is caused by eating or drinking food or beverages contaminated with disease-causing germs. Although it is preventable, one in six Americans gets food poisoning each year. People over 65, children under 5, and people who are pregnant or immunocompromised have an increased risk of severe illness.

Get Ready in a Year: Hacker Security

Last week, we wrote about ways to ensure you have access to important home documents after a disaster. You’ll need this information to recover from a storm, earthquake, fire, or other emergency.

But what about hackers who might want to steal your data or identity? Here are some simple precautions you can take.

• Understand that you are a target for hackers. Never say, “It won’t happen to me.” It can happen and has ruined the lives of thousands of people.

• Keep your software up to date. Keep your operating system up to date with automatic updates so your computer (or phone) has the latest security.

• Don’t fall for “phishing.” Many security breaches happen because someone clicks on a link or file in an innocent-looking email, text message, or social media post. Signs of a scam include poor grammar, spelling, and offers of free stuff. Don’t respond if you don’t know the sender.

• Use smart passwords. Create passwords that are 12 characters long and use a combination of numbers, symbols, uppercase and lowercase letters that don’t create anything. Don’t reuse passwords, because one leaked password attached to multiple accounts could result in a chain of malicious hacks. Consider using a password manager to help you do all of this.

• Use two-factor authentication if offered. Two-factor authentication means that a website sends you a code via text message or email as a final verification step before granting access. Don’t fall for a “security audit” scam if someone calls or emails you asking for your two-factor code.

• Install antivirus and antimalware protection. These software protections help protect your account from being hacked. Keep your antivirus or antimalware software up to date.

• Back up your data regularly. Use two or more external hard drives and keep one in a safe place outside your home.

• Be careful with public Wi-Fi. Do not log into sites with sensitive information (bank accounts, etc.) when using public unsecure Wi-Fi, such as free Wi-Fi at airports, hotels, coffee shops, etc.

• Do not send or download confidential information via email. Instead, if possible, use the company’s secure online file server on its website.

• Don’t use free public USB charging ports or cables at airports, hotels, etc. Instead, charge your phone using your own charger and USB cable, plugged directly into a wall outlet. Hackers have modified many public USB ports to read usernames and passwords.