Isolation and quarantine services
Isolation and quarantine continue to play an important role in managing COVID-19. By keeping sick and healthy people separated, it can help reduce transmission of the virus and prevent severe outcomes for those at highest risk of hospitalization. Public Health can provide a safe, clean, and comfortable place to stay for people who don’t have a safe place to self-quarantine or isolate.
Isolation is used for people who are currently ill and able to spread the disease and who need to stay away from others in order to avoid infecting them.
Quarantine is for people who are not currently showing symptoms but are at increased risk for having been exposed to an infectious disease.
For isolation and quarantine requests contact the King County COVID-19 Mobile Isolation and Quarantine Program at 206-848-0710. Staff are available to take your call 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
A new model for Isolation and Quarantine services
King County's Isolation and Quarantine facility in Kent was the first such civilian site in the United States when it opened on March 10, 2020. Since then, the Isolation and Quarantine program has supported nearly 4,000 individuals during their recovery from COVID-19 illness and exposure. With relatively stable COVID-19 hospitalization and death rates, reflecting fewer severe cases of COVID-19, King County made the decision to transition to a more sustainable model of isolation and quarantine. This includes a new program to ensure King County residents have a safe, stable, and comfortable place to isolate and quarantine.
A new model is scaled to meet the ongoing needs of our community. It includes three smaller locations for lodging, supported by a Mobile Isolation and Quarantine Care Team.
The Mobile Isolation and Quarantine Care Team includes:
- Nurses and behavioral health staff
- In-person and phone-based COVID recovery care and care coordination
- Program staff are available at 206-848-0710 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Transportation at beginning and end of placement, and to necessary medical appointments during the client’s stay (including methadone provider)
- Food, toiletries, and supplies
- Care coordination and discharge planning
- Support for accessing prescribed medications
- Initiation of buprenorphine treatment, via Downtown Public Health Center – Pathways
Lodging options include:
- Two adult family homes, both located in south King County, with a 24/7 caregiver on site
- Hotel rooms in north Seattle (just off Aurora)
- Placements are based on availability and services needed
- Services are free, and no ID is required
- Service/emotional support animals welcome
- Families with children and couples welcome
Services are tailored to support people experiencing homelessness or unstable housing conditions and are open to anyone who can’t safely isolate or quarantine at home.
Isolation and Quarantine during a surge
At times of a large surge in COVID-19 in King County, if our program is at capacity, a surge plan includes:
- If demand exceeds capacity, the program will prioritize services to those at highest risk for hospitalization.
Link/share our site at kingcounty.gov/covid/homeless/IQ