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 22, 2022: The EOC is at a Low-Mid Level of Activation based on current numbers for COVID-19 admissions and community transmission. COVID-19 patients represent 1.58% of hospital admissions. UW Medicine hospitals are caring for 18 patients with COVID-19.
UW Medicine COVID-19 Inpatients
King County and Washington State Epidemiology
King County: Public Health – Seattle & King County is reporting 371,214 cases and 2,656 deaths as of March 21. The number of new cases over the last seven days is currently at 50.5 per 100,000 people.
Washington: The Department of Health reports 1,446,845 total cases and 12,335 deaths as of March 20.
Daily Capacity Data Report
The Daily Capacity Data Report shows the total occupancy and the number of COVID-19 patients at each hospital.
EOC Priorities
- UW Medicine Masking Policy (Details Coming Soon): While masks will become optional inside most University of Washington facilities starting March 28, UW Medicine will not be changing the masking policy at this time for patients, visitors, vendors, or healthcare workers while working in any of the clinical footprints, including administrative spaces. UW and UW Medicine personnel who do not work in clinical areas should follow the UW masking policy.
- Lessons Learned Survey (Ongoing): UW Medicine’s Emergency Management response to COVID-19 has involved everyone in our organization. Please provide your feedback about what went well and what can be improved to guide our systemwide planning in the future. The survey can be completed in less than 10 minutes and will close at end of day on Friday, April 1, 2022. Survey link: https://redcap.link/LessonsLearnedSurvey
- Emergency Preparedness (Ongoing): UW Medicine is monitoring global events to protect against cybersecurity threats and supply chain disruptions. At the current time, normal operations continue in all areas.
- Visitor Policy (No Changes): UW Medicine hospitals are currently allowing one to two designated visitors per day for most inpatients, subject to each hospital’s guidelines and visitation hours. See the visitor policy for details.
- Booster Requirement (Deadline March 31): All employees except those working in non-clinical roles in the School of Medicine are required to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster and show proof of meeting that requirement. For more information, please see COVID-19 Booster Campaign.
- Work-Related Travel Restrictions (No Changes): UW Medicine is following UW policies for work-related travel.
Stay Informed
In the Media:
- BA.2 subvariant causing nearly 1 in 4 new COVID cases, Dr. Alex Greninger, Virology, UW Medicine Newsroom
- How protected are we against Covid-19? Scientists search for a test to measure immunity, Marion Pepper, Immunology, CNN
- Kids’ sleep disrupted during the pandemic, study finds, Dr. Michael Vitiello, Psychiatry, UW Medicine Newsroom
- New advice on young athletes’ post-COVID return to play, Dr. Kimberly Harmon, Sports Medicine, UW Medicine Newsroom
Ongoing communications:
- Emergency Operations Updates: Scheduled for Tuesdays.
- Dr. John Lynch COVID-19 Update: Scheduled for Thursdays every two weeks.
- Town Halls: Generally scheduled for 3 p.m. on Fridays every two weeks; Check your email for announcements (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
