02/14/22 Health Advisory: CDC Updated Covid-19 Vaccination Guidelines; FDA Postponed its pediatric Covid-19 Vaccination Review

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COVID-19 Updates for Providers

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COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 testing

COVID-19 test processing

Labs report varying amounts of time to process COVID-19 tests. To support faster turnaround, we encourage providers to use in-state labs. The table below shows COVID-19 test processing times for in-state private labs.

LabTime to process testTests processed daily
FidaLab24–30 hours5,000
Kaiser24 hours700–800
LabCorp24–48 hoursUnknown
Northwest Pathology48–72 hours20,000
Quest24–48 hours700
UW Virology24–48 hours10,000–11,000
Atlas Genomic24–48 hours10,000

COVID-19 therapies

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allocates monoclonal antibodies and oral antivirals to each state. DOH distributes doses to enrolled providers. Providers must enroll in Healthcare Partner Ordering Portal (HPoP) to manage COVID-19 therapies. Email mcm@doh.wa.gov for support enrolling.

Supplies of all therapies are current limited. Safeway and independent pharmacies may have oral antivirals. Hospital-associated systems may have monoclonal antibodies. All therapies must be dispensed by prescription. Therapies from Safeway are intended to be delivered to patients’ homes. Patients with questions about accessing their medication should call the pharmacy.

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COVID-19 prevention

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Immediately report COVID-19

  • Cases in the following people—call (253) 649-1412.
    • Healthcare workers (e.g., EMS, medical, nursing, any healthcare facility employee).
    • Public safety workers (e.g., law enforcement, firefighter).
    • Live or work in a long-term care facility, senior living center, permanent supportive housing or similar congregate setting (e.g., shelter, correctional facility) housing people at high risk of severe outcomes.
    • Anyone who dies with COVID-19.
    • Anyone with suspected MIS-C.
  • All other cases—fax the following to (253) 649-1357 or call (253) 649-1413.
    • Patient—first name, last name, date of birth, gender, race, ethnicity, preferred language, phone number, address and zip code.
    • Specimen—collection date and type (NP, nasal swab, blood, etc.).
    • Test—type (PCR, NAAT, antigen, antibody/serology) and result (detected, not detected, inconclusive).
    • Ordering facility.
  • For all cases, report the person’s race, ethnicity and preferred language.

Contacting the Health Department

Questions?
  • For urgent issues, call (253) 649-1412.
  • For non-urgent issues, call (253) 649-1413 and leave a message.
    • Includes reporting notifiable conditions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
    • Leave the patient’s name, date of birth and disease.

Additional resources