SEATTLE – A soaring range of COVID situations has led UW Medicine to postpone non-urgent surgical procedures.
A spokesperson with UW Medicine tells FOX 13 that they have roughly 65 COVID-19 patients involving four hospitals.
In a letter to individuals, Lisa Brandenburg wrote: “Our doctors and operational teams are examining each circumstance and will only reschedule these that can safely and securely be postponed to a afterwards date.”
At this time, telehealth visits are becoming inspired alternatively than in-person appointments – particularly for those suffering from indicators of COVID-19 such as: cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, muscle suffering, sore throat, decline of taste or odor, gastrointestinal indicators, headache or runny nose.
The information arrives as UW Medicine is prioritizing screening web pages for those with symptoms, or recognised exposure to a man or woman with COVID-19.
Around the previous 7 days screening web sites were slammed from a increase in demand for assessments due to holiday get-togethers, and closures of internet sites throughout King, Pierce and Snohomish counties thanks to wintertime weather. On best of that, residence antigen tests are getting to be more durable to get owing to a national shortage.
Irrespective of a crunch in tests appointments, good test charges have been soaring.
Dr. Geoffrey Bair, chair of Laboratory Medication and Pathology at UW College of Drugs instructed FOX 13 that a site in Auburn observed a positivity rate of 49-percent just lately.
“Which is just astronomically large in comparison to the place we have been in in between surges. We have typically noticed web-sites throughout Seattle at 5-10% favourable. And at prior peaks we have seen optimistic rates at 20-25%,” stated Baird.
As for UW Medication, visitation is getting limited to lessen the chance of COVID-19 transmission. Commencing on January 3, 2022, patients will be authorized 1 customer for a single hour in the course of designated browsing hours. Website visitors are expected to exhibit proof of vaccination, or a adverse COVID-19 test inside 3 days of the stop by. They will also be necessary to use a clinical-quality mask at all instances.
Relevant: Seattle Community Colleges cancels initially working day of class in 2022 to offer you COVID-19 tests
Study Additional: Visitation restrictions in effect at Olympia, Centralia hospitals
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