Whatcom report on coronavirus response shows hospital status, more cases projected
Confirmed cases of the new coronavirus will climb to well over 200 infections in Whatcom County by Saturday, according to a daily “situation report” from Whatcom Unified Command, the agency that is handling local response to the pandemic.
According to Whatcom Unified Command documents obtained by The Bellingham Herald, the daily “sitrep” from Tuesday, March 31, along with other documents, provides a rare window into what officials know about hospital capacity and projections about how the virus will spread through Whatcom County.
It’s the most detailed look inside the agency since the unified command began March 18 as officials have kept a tight lid on information and provided few specifics except for daily infection and death reports.
Limits on information about the county’s actions to combat virus transmission and treat those suffering from COVID-19 recently prompted several members of the Whatcom County Council to seek more transparency.
This week’s projected rise in local infections is based on data from the Washington State Hospital Association and the state Department of Health, according to the documents obtained by The Herald. It is consistent with messaging from other public agencies that social distancing remains imperative for the near future.
The Whatcom County Health Department reported on its website 144 confirmed cases and 8 deaths on Wednesday, April. 1.
According to the documents, St. Joseph Hospital had 22 suspected “in-house” coronavirus cases and 11 confirmed cases on Tuesday. A space for “caregivers exposed” was left blank. There were 14 caregivers who have been furloughed, the report said.
There were 91 visits to the hospital’s Emergency Department on Tuesday, and 21 people were admitted — but it was not detailed if all those admissions were for coronavirus infections.
Some 12 of 24 available beds were being used in the hospital’s intensive-care unit, according to the report. Three ventilators were being used Tuesday, and the hospital has a total of 23 ventilators available. Staffing levels were considered “green,” or normal, the report said.
The report showed Whatcom Unified Command on Tuesday was working on determining whether nursing trainees could be used as a “surge workforce,” as well as scouting alternative medical facilities in case hospitals are overwhelmed, and policies on the use of homemade, hand-sewn masks.
It was also looking at training people to respond to questions from its website and phone calls.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHere's how to send us a confidential news tip
The Bellingham Herald believes in journalism that illuminates critical problems facing the public – the waste of public resources, government and corporate fraud, abuse of power, corruption, and injustice in all its forms. We have a commitment to telling stories that make a difference. We conduct journalism without fear or favor.
Our reporters require hard evidence of wrongdoing to tell these stories. That means relying on documents and interviews with multiple sources. If you have evidence for a story that needs to be told, please let us know.
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 3:07 PM.
