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
May 24, 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 2.8% of hospital admissions. UW Medicine hospitals are caring for 33 patients with COVID-19. As of yesterday, 257 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.
Employees Out of Office Due to COVID-19
This chart shows the number of employees on leave due to COVID-19 isolation and quarantine on representative days between December 28, 2021, and May 23, 2022.
King County and Washington State Epidemiology
King County: Public Health – Seattle & King County is reporting 422,403 cases and 2,784 deaths as of May 23. The number of new cases over the last seven days is currently at 377.1 per 100,000 people.
Washington: The Department of Health reports 1,559,662 total cases and 12,872 deaths as of May 22.
EOC Priorities
EOC Level of Activation (Update): The EOC remains at the low-mid level of activation based on the hospital census for COVID-19 patients, which is below 5% of the total hospital census. Monitoring continues for transmission rates in King County and the impact on staffing from employees who are on isolation and quarantine. The seven-day rate of new cases per 100,000 people in King County has increased from 50.5 on March 21 to 377.1 today.
Boosters for Ages 5-11 (New): UW Medicine is providing a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to all children ages 5 to 11 who have completed their primary, two-dose series at least five months prior. Appointments are available at UW Medical Center – Montlake, Harborview Medical Center, and UW Medicine Primary Care clinics. Call 844.520.8700 or book online. Boosters for eligible people in other age groups are also recommended by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. See Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States.
Infection Prevention & Control (New): UW Medicine’s Med Tech team is monitoring recent outbreaks at skilled nursing facilities for impacts on residents and on our ability to discharge patients from hospitals. The team is also monitoring the emergence of new cases of H5N1 and monkeypox. Policies under review for updates include required respirators and alternatives, healthcare worker isolation and quarantine, and pre-procedure testing.
Stay Informed
Employee News:
- Dr. John Lynch COVID-19 Update (May 19)
In the Media:
- What to know about the monkeypox outbreak and WA’s first presumptive case, Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, Allergy and Infectious Diseases, UW Medicine, and Public Health Officer, Seattle & King County, The Seattle Times
- CDC advisers urge Pfizer booster for children ages 5 to 11, Dr. Beth Ebel, Pediatrics, KING5
- With COVID cases on rise again, did WA lift mask mandate too soon?, Pavitra Roychoudhury, Laboratory Medicine), KIRO 7
- From Seattle to South Korea: How UW researchers are making a global impact through COVID-19 vaccine development, David Veesler, Neil King and Alexandra Walls, Biochemistry, UW Daily
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; Check your email for announcements (recordings available).
- Community Conversations: Check your 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