Dec 2, 2022

Be Aware: Whatcom County is in a High Community Transmission Level Category per CDC Map

This is a significant change from our previous level, and it is the first time Whatcom County has been in the High Community Transmission Level Category since WA DOH updated the healthcare guidance on October 31, 2022.

• Check out the CDC map here – your facility should be checking this weekly

Healthcare facilities should implement the following additional infection prevention measures immediately to prevent the spread of Sars-CoV-2. These measures should remain in place until we have been below high community transmission for at least 14 days.

Universal Masking as Source Control, a Reminder:

• Per the Washington State Secretary of Health order, continue wearing surgical masks or better in all patient care areas
• Contact us at [email protected] if you need masks for source control, we have a limited amount of supply we can distribute currently

Eye Protection:

• Staff should wear eye protection (face shields, goggles, etc that adequately cover the face) for all patient encounters while in high community transmission and for 14 days after community transmission decreases below high

New Admissions to Facilities:

• While in high community transmission and for 14 days afterwards, all new admissions should be screened for COVID-19 unless recently recovered from an infection in the past 30 days

PPE Surrounding Aerosol-Generating Procedures (AGPs, pg 15):

• Healthcare providers (HCP) in the room (or patient care area) should wear a NIOSH approved N95 or equivalent or higher-level respirator, eye protection, gloves, and a gown.
• The number of HCP present during the procedure should be limited to only those essential for patient care and procedure support (for example, parents/caregivers for emotional or physical support). Visitors should not be present for the procedure, if possible.
• AGPs should take place in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR), if possible. If an AIIR is not available, the door to the room should remain closed during the procedure and for the lengths of time indicated on page 17 of the DOH guidance document following the AGP.
• If respirators are in short supply, facilities should implement CDC’s Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators.