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
Jan. 28, 2022: EOC level of activation is high. COVID-19 patients represent 14.16% of hospital admissions. UW Medicine hospitals are caring for 156 patients with COVID-19. As of yesterday, 262 employees were 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 330,895 total cases and 2,311 deaths as of Jan. 27. The number of new positive tests is currently at 1,072.8/7 days/100,000 people (community transmission level = high).
Washington: The Department of Health reports 1,257,918 total cases and 10,580 deaths as of Jan. 25.
Employees Out of Office Due to COVID-19
EOC Priorities
- Visitor Policy: The EOC is evaluating surge data and safety protocols to determine when the temporary restrictions on inpatient visitation can be modified or lifted. See the policy for details on current restrictions.
- COVID-19 Return to Work Policy: UW Medicine has revised its 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.
- Precautions for Aerosol Generating Procedures After Recovery From COVID-19: UW Medicine patients no longer require aerosol/contact (COVID-19) precautions between 10 -20 days of diagnosis if they have otherwise been cleared of precautions. See the policy for details.
Stay Informed
Updates this week:
- Dr. John Lynch COVID-19 Update (Jan. 27)
- Riding the wave of Omicron cases, Anne Browning, PhD, and Trish Kritek, MD (Jan. 24)
In the Media:
- Virologists closely monitor emerging omicron variant, Dr. Alex Greninger, UW Medicine Virology Laboratory, UW Medicine Newsroom
- Can you share COVID tests with more than one person? Dr. Jai Lingappa, Department of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Romper
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
