UW Medicine’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) reports on our ability to maintain normal operations using a scale from “monitoring” to “high level of activation” based on information about community transmission rates, hospital admissions, staffing capacity, space availability, PPE supplies and other impacts on the health system.
This update provides a quick look at some of the key data used by the EOC to determine UW Medicine’s current level of activation. For more detailed information, you can review the EOC’s situation status reports.
EOC Level of Activation
Feb. 15, 2022: EOC level of activation is mid-high due to the continued downward trend of COVID-19 admissions to our hospitals and the decrease in new cases, hospitalizations and deaths across King County. COVID-19 patients represent 4.01% of hospital admissions. UW Medicine hospitals are caring for 46 patients with COVID-19. As of yesterday, 98 employees were on leave due to COVID-19 isolation and quarantine.
Daily Capacity Data Report
New: The Daily Capacity Data Report shows total occupancy and the number of COVID-19 patients at each hospital.
UW Medicine COVID-19 Inpatients
King County and Washington State Epidemiology
King County: Public Health – Seattle & King County is reporting 361,827 total cases and 2,482 deaths as of Feb. 15. The number of new positive tests over the last seven days is currently at 375.0 per 100,000 people (community transmission level = high).
Washington: The Department of Health reports 1,410,658 total cases and 11,373 deaths as of Feb. 13.
Employees Out of Office Due to COVID-19
EOC Priorities
- Visitor Policy: UW Medical Center and Valley Medical Center are currently allowing one visitor per day for inpatients during visiting hours. Harborview is planning to allow one visitor per day during visiting hours beginning on Thursday, Feb. 17. In addition to our current COVID-19 screening and vaccination/testing requirements, visitors must also wear a Level 3 surgical mask (to be provided at entrances) or higher level respirator (available on the units). Starting today, the visitor vaccination and testing requirements are expanding to include all outpatient clinics as well as the inpatient, procedure areas and clinics on hospital campuses. See visitor policy for details.
- Work-Related Travel Restrictions Lifted on Jan. 31, 2022: UW Medicine is following UW policies for work-related travel.
- COVID-19 Return to Work Policy: UW Medicine has revised the policy for returning to work after isolation or quarantine, effective January 19.
- N95 Respirators: UW Medicine Supply Chain is increasing inventory to support masking guidelines in clinical care spaces; work is also underway to increase resources for fit testing.
- Surgeries and Procedures: In alignment with Gov. Jay Inslee’s emergency order, UW Medicine is postponing all outpatient and inpatient non-urgent surgeries and procedures through February 17.
- Employee Daily Health Attestation: As of February 4, the daily health attestation is no longer required. Staff should continue to monitor symptoms and if they experience any new symptoms, stay home, notify their supervisor, and get tested. For a new exposure, contact Employee Health for guidance.
Stay Informed
Recent Updates:
- Vaccine Booster Requirement for All Employees Except Those in Non-Clinical Roles in the School of Medicine (Feb. 9)
- Dr. John Lynch COVID-19 Update (Feb. 10)
In the Media:
- Home remedies for respiratory illness, Dr. Nikki Gentile, UW Medicine Primary Care at Northgate, UW Medicine Newsroom
- Statewide Mask Mandates Are Being Lifted — But What Happens Next? Ali Mokdad, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Rolling Stone
Ongoing Communications:
- Emergency Operations Updates: Scheduled for Tuesdays.
- Dr. John Lynch COVID-19 Update: Scheduled for Thursdays.
- Town Halls: Generally scheduled for 3 p.m. on Fridays; Check your email for updates (recordings available).
- Community Conversations: Check you email for dates and times (recordings available).
- EOC Situation Reports: Posted on the UW Medicine intranet (AMC login required).
- Leadership Messages and Employee Resources: Posted on The Huddle.
Sincerely,
UW Medicine Leadership
