When widespread community transmission of COVID-19 was confirmed in February 2020, UW Medicine activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to develop a unified response to the challenges of a global pandemic.
The EOC monitors 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 report 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 reports, you can review the EOC’s situation status reports.
EOC Level of Activation
Jan. 14, 2022: EOC level of activation is high. COVID-19 patients represent 16.65% of hospital admissions. UW Medicine hospitals are caring for 194 patients with COVID-19, which is the highest number since the start of the pandemic. The Omicron surge has also greatly increased the number of employees who are on leave due to COVID-19 isolation and quarantine.
UW Medicine COVID-19 Inpatients
King County and Washington State Epidemiology
King County: Public Health – Seattle & King County is reporting 269,431 total confirmed cases and 2,239 deaths as of Jan. 14. The number of new positive tests is currently at 1,825.5/7 days/100,000 people (community transmission level = high).
Washington: The Department of Health reports 1,025,322 total cases and 10,143 deaths as of Jan. 12.
Employees Out of Office Due to COVID-19
EOC Priorities
- Visitor Policy: UW Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center are temporarily restricting all routine visitation in our hospitals as of January 13.
- 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.
- Telehealth: UW Medicine’s clinics are shifting as much care as possible to telehealth through January 31.
Stay Informed
Updates this week:
In the Media:
Ongoing communications:
- Emergency Operations Updates: Scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays
- 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
