Independent living facilities toolkit

Create and maintain a positive COVID-19 case list. Include all residents, clients, patients, students, employees, volunteers, and contractors at your facility who test positive for COVID-19. If you are in a confirmed outbreak, you will use this list to submit a weekly cumulative case counts to Public Health. You may be asked to submit a final case list at the end of the outbreak investigation. Download a COVID-19 Case List template (MS Excel).

Report to Public Health – Seattle & King County

• Report positive COVID cases: If there is not an ongoing investigation associated with your facility, report any positive COVID cases (including residents/patients/staff/contractors) using the Public Health COVID-19 Intake Survey. You will receive a confirmatory email with additional information and guidance links.
• Investigation start: After your report has been processed, Public Health may open an investigation for your facility. You will receive an email with follow up instructions and a COVID-19 Investigator may contact you. An investigation is a non-punitive Public Health process for collecting information about how a disease is affecting our community and for providing guidance and resources.
• Submit weekly investigation updates: Every Monday while the investigation is open, you will receive an email prompting you to submit a weekly investigation update. Use the Investigation Update Form link provided to you to report a cumulative case count, most recent symptom onset date, and any hospitalizations or deaths associated with your facility. Report every week even if your facility has no additional cases.
• Investigation closure:
• If your facility meets outbreak criteria, your investigation will close when 15 days have passed since the last positive COVID case was identified. At this time Public Health may send you an email requesting that you submit a complete COVID-19 case list. Download a COVID-19 Case List template (MS Excel).
• If your facility does not meet outbreak criteria, your investigation will close when 8 days have passed since the last positive COVID case was identified.
• Report subsequent cases: After the investigation is closed, subsequent cases should be reported using thee Public Health COVID-19 Intake Survey.

Report to Labor & Industries

https://www.lni.wa.gov/forms-publications/F417-295-000.pdf

If you identify 10 or more employee infections within 14 consecutive calendar days and/or PHSKC communicates to you that there is a confirmed COVID-19 outbreak at your workplace or work site at your work, you have 24 hours to report the outbreak by calling L&I's Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) at 1-800-4BE-SAFE (or 1-800-423-7233.)

When you call, follow the menu option for “reporting fatalities, hospitalizations, amputations or loss of an eye.”

Notify all staff, residents, and applicable resident families

Notify all staff, residents, and applicable resident families of COVID-19 in your facility while maintaining confidentiality of the positive case(s).

• COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Guidance, Public Health – Seattle & King County
  
  
• CDC isolation guidance for those who test positive
  
  
• CDC quarantine guidance for those who have been exposed to a positive case
  
  
• Encourage residents to self-monitor for COVID-like symptoms and screen staff daily (CDC’s COVID Symptom List).
  
  

• COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know, CDC
  
  
• Test for Current Infection, CDC
  
  
• Quarantine and Isolation - including when to test, CDC
  
  
• Staff and residents can be tested at free King County test sites.
  
  
• Encourage staff and residents to order free home antigen tests from DOH's Say Yes! COVID Test program.
  
  
• If you are in an extraordinary situation and need testing support, please reach out to your assigned investigator.

• DOH Guidance on PPE Use – What PPE to use and in what situation?

Ordering PPE Supplies

• Please make all attempts to order PPE through your distributor or other resources.
  
  
• If unsuccessful, please place an order through Public Health – Seattle & King County. Limited supply available.

• Encourage residents and staff to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations.
  
  
• For vaccine appointments, visit the DOH Vaccine Locator.
  
  
• If you are having difficulties acquiring vaccinations for the residents or staff in your facility. Please email ltcfcovidsupport@kingcounty.gov.

Please notify your investigator if your facility is having difficulty providing critical services to residents due to isolation or quarantine of staff.

For staffing isolation support or coverage concerns, call the King County COVID-19 Call Center at 206-477-3977.

• Note that local workplace safety and health requirements may differ slightly from federal guidance. Please review WA Dept. of Labor & Industries resources to ensure regulatory compliance.

Ventilation

• Improving indoor air, Public Health – Seattle & King County
  
  
• Ventilation and Air Quality for COVID-19, WA Dept. of Health
  
  
• Ventilation in Buildings, CDC

Cleaning and disinfection guidance

• About List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19), EPA
  
  
• Cleaning and disinfecting your facility, CDC

• Staff Screening Guidance and Worksheet, WA Dept. of Health
  
  
• Multi-family Housing Including Populations at Increased Risk for Complications, CDC
  
  
• Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines, CDC
  
  
• Know Your COVID-19 Community Level, CDC
  
  

Signage and Posters:

• Visitor Alert Sign, WA Dept. of Health
  
  
• Clean Hands Keep You Healthy, CDC
  
  
• Help Protect Yourself and Others, CDC
  
  
• Symptoms of COVID-19, CDC