Providence Regional Medical Center Everett is pausing all non-emergency surgeries because of the rising number of COVID-19 patients currently in the hospital. (Sue Misao / The Herald)

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett is pausing all non-emergency surgeries because of the rising number of COVID-19 patients currently in the hospital. (Sue Misao / The Herald)

Providence pauses non-emergency procedures and visitation

In the past week, the Everett hospital’s two campuses have seen in-patient numbers more than double.

EVERETT — As hospitalizations catch up with record-high local COVID-19 infections, Everett’s Providence hospital campuses are clamping down on visitations.

And for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, non-emergency procedures will be put on hold.

“It’s been very fast,” said Jay Cook, chief medical officer for Providence Regional Medical Center, in an interview Tuesday with The Daily Herald. “Within the last week our in-patient hospital volumes have doubled. Actually, a little bit more than doubled.”

The surge will likely continue, he said, since hospitalizations tend to lag case surges.

Last week, the Snohomish Health District reported its highest-ever weekly case count, at 2,719. This week, that number had more than doubled, at 5,583. The spike was so dramatic the district had to resize its weekly graph to accommodate the higher numbers.

The county’s 14-day case rate has also more than doubled, now standing at a record 997 per 100,000, according to the health district. That means in the past two weeks, approximately one in every 100 people here got COVID-19.

Countywide, the number of hospitalized COVID patients has hovered in the 40s to 50s for several weeks. This week, it jumped to 88.

The decision to halt all routine visitations, which were previously allowed on Wednesdays and Saturdays, was especially difficult to make, Cook said.

“This was something all of us in leadership, and caregivers in the hospital, really struggled with,” he said. “We understand how important it is for patients who are sick enough to be in the hospital to see their loved ones. And it’s heartbreaking when there are barriers to that.”

But as cases surged locally, there were indications that visitors brought the virus into the hospital, he added.

Visitor exceptions will be made for those going to the maternity, pediatrics and NICU units, as well as those making end-of-life visits.

Surgeries now put on hold can include serious heart procedures and surgeries for cancer patients.

The plan is to postpone those for two weeks, although the hospital system is prepared to extend that. Modeling by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation still predicts Washington’s cases, hospitalizations and deaths to continue rising into next month.

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 95% of cases nationwide can be attributed to the highly contagious omicron variant. The concern has officials urging people to get boosted and wear better masks. Omicron “can more easily escape regular surgical masks,” Washington’s Chief Science Officer Tao Kwan-Gett said last week.

Local Providence hospitals have seen in-patient volumes like this before, Cook said.

What’s different this time around is the “profound” impact on hospital staff, who are overwhelmingly vaccinated against the disease and therefore protected against severe illness, but still have to isolate if infected.

That, paired with the “great resignation” of nursing staff, Cook said, means remaining employees need to be tending not only to COVID patients, but people coming in with heart attacks, strokes, accidents and other life-threatening emergencies.

Also unique to this surge is that fewer COVID patients are needing the Intensive Care Unit. That’s perhaps the result of the omicron variant causing less severe illness.

“Although I’ll also say, in the same breath, that sometimes those patients who are initially admitted take a few days to get sick enough to go to the ICU,” Cook said.

Snohomish County’s spike in cases and hospitalizations is mirrored across Washington. The state’s COVID-19 data dashboard shows both metrics once again soaring. It has caused a rush for tests, including locally, where county-run vaccine and testing sites have been closed due to snow and ice.

County health officials will hold their first coronavirus briefing in weeks Wednesday morning. The same day, Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to provide more details on the opening of several new state-run vaccination sites.

Claudia Yaw: 425-339-3449; claudia.yaw@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @yawclaudia.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Lynnwood
Lynnwood police: 1 suspect in custody, 1 at large after attempted carjacking

Beverly Elementary School went into a precautionary lockdown Thursday afternoon. Numerous officers continue to search for the second suspect.

Candidates announce campaigns for Everett city council seat

Ryan Crowther, founder of the Everett Music Initiative, will challenge incumbent Paula Rhyne for the District 2 seat.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.