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
March 1, 2022: The EOC is currently at a Mid Level of Activation. Next week, the level will change to Low-Mid based on continuing declines in COVID-19 admissions, community transmission and staff in isolation or quarantine. COVID-19 patients represent 2.11% of hospital admissions. UW Medicine hospitals are caring for 24 patients with COVID-19. As of yesterday, 33 employees were on leave due to COVID-19 isolation and quarantine.
UW Medicine COVID-19 Inpatients
Daily Capacity Data Report
The Daily Capacity Data Report shows the total occupancy and the number of COVID-19 patients at each hospital.
King County and Washington State Epidemiology
King County: Public Health – Seattle & King County is reporting 365,866 cases and 2,567 deaths as of Feb. 28. The number of new positive tests over the last seven days is currently at 96.2 per 100,000 people (community transmission level = substantial).
Washington: The Department of Health reports 1,423,990 total cases and 11,866 deaths as of Feb. 27.
Employees Out of Office Due to COVID-19*
* Due to the significant decrease in staff in isolation or quarantine due to COVID-19 illness or exposure, the EOC is discontinuing the collection and reporting of this data as of March 1, 2022.
EOC Priorities
Listed below are current policies. Updates to the Return to Work policy and Masking Guidelines for Healthcare Workers are planned for next week and will be announced separately.
- Visitor Policy: UW Medicine hospitals are currently allowing one visitor per day for inpatients during visiting hours. All visitors are screened for COVID-19 symptoms and for compliance with vaccination/testing requirements. They must also wear a Level 3 surgical mask (to be provided at entrances) or higher level respirator (available on the units). The visitor vaccination and testing requirements were expanded on February 15 to all outpatient clinics and continue at UW Medicine despite the lifting of these requirements for businesses in King County today. Masks will also still be required of visitors when the state and local mandates lift on March 12. See visitor policy for details.
- Work-Related Travel Restrictions: UW Medicine is following UW policies for work-related travel.
- COVID-19 Return to Work Policy: UW Medicine revised the policy for returning to work after isolation or quarantine, effective January 19.
- Surgeries and Procedures: Gov. Jay Inslee’s emergency order postponing outpatient and inpatient non-urgent surgeries and procedures ended on February 17. UW Medicine is resuming scheduling and contacting patients whose surgeries and procedures were delayed.
- Employee Daily Health Attestation: As of February 4, the daily health attestation is no longer required. Staff should stay home if they experience symptoms, notify their supervisor and get tested. For a new exposure, contact Employee Health for guidance.
Stay Informed
Med Tech Update:
In the Media:
- Covid Travel Can Mean a Whole New Kind of Culture Shock, Nancy Jecker, Bioethics, Seattle Met
- After 2 years of COVID in Seattle area, do we dare hope for ‘normal’?, Dr. Chloe Bryson-Cahn, Infectious Diseases, The Seattle Times
- Will we get a single, variant-proof vaccine for Covid? Dr. Larry Corey, Virology; Neil King, Institute for Protein Design, The Guardian
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
