EVERETT — A steady surge of patients sickened by flu, COVID and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is pushing the state’s health care system to its limits, causing long delays in emergency rooms and forcing some hospitals to transfer patients due to a lack of beds.
Elina Lazo, chief nursing officer at Swedish Edmonds, said at a news conference Wednesday: “It seems that each day we’re setting a new record with the number of patients in our ED. We have dozens of patients boarding in the emergency department and dozens more waiting to be seen.”
In response, state and local health officials held separate news conferences this week, stepping up calls for residents to get flu and COVID vaccinations, as well as to wear masks inside to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses.
“It’s extremely important that the community understand the strain that’s currently on the health care system and the urgent need for all of us to do our part to prevent severe illness,” said Dr. James Lewis, health officer for the Snohomish Health District.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Secretary of Health Umair Shah repeatedly said there are “no plans in place” for reimposing a statewide mask mandate. Current state rules require face-coverings be worn in health care and correctional facilities.
In Snohomish, providers are seeing an increase in flu and COVID cases and hospitalizations, while RSV appears to be slowing. Lazo said that in the past month they’ve seen a 65% increase in patients with flu and a 27% increase in patients with COVID in the EDs at Edmonds and Mill Creek.
Dr. Jay Cook, chief medical officer at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, said hospitals and clinics around the state were already seeing high demand for care, due in part to pent-up demand during the pandemic.
“It’s imperative that we don’t continue to have surges and hospitalizations due to respiratory infections so that these other non-respiratory conditions can be treated and cared for in a timely fashion,” he said. “When hospitals are overburdened, it impacts everyone.”
The Everett hospital is seeing an increase in the number of patients in the Emergency Department and those admitted to the hospital for the flu, COVID and RSV. The rate of RSV-positives has gone down a little, while the rate of influenza infections increased threefold over the past month.
The trends broadly match statewide viral activity, according to Shah.
In Washington, there have been 26 influenza-related deaths this flu season so far. That is the same number of deaths as the entire 2021-22 flu season. Snohomish County has recorded three flu-related deaths since Oct. 2, the beginning of the 2022-23 flu season as set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Lazo added that pediatric capacity is stressed.
“This year,” Lazo said, “we’re seeing a surge in emergency department visits and high numbers of hospitalizations among children at a time when resources are particularly thin. Hospitals who care for pediatric patients in our region are already at or over capacity on a regular basis.”
While Washington has one of the nation’s highest rates for COVID vaccinations, there is concern with the lack of interest among most age groups to get the bivalent booster, said Michele Roberts, assistant secretary for prevention and community health for the state. About one in four eligible people age 5 and older have received a bivalent booster.
In Snohomish County, that number is the same, although driven by half of seniors who have received a bivalent booster. A much higher 61% of eligible folks have received any booster.
In Washington, about 28% of eligible people have received a flu shot this season, Roberts said. That’s actually a bit better at this stage than last year.
However, that reflects a very high number among older adults and seniors. Fewer children under the age of 12 are getting vaccinated than they did before and during the pandemic, according to data from the state Department of Health.
The county health district is starting to run joint COVID and flu vaccine clinics, with a focus on getting out to communities who have historically faced barriers to accessing vaccines.
Lazo pleaded with Snohomish residents: “Our ED staff are truly heroic, doing heroic work to care for our community. We need our community to return the favor. Help our health care workers, help your neighbors. Get your flu and COVID vaccine. Wear a mask indoors. I understand it may not be popular, but it is the safest choice.”
Herald reporter Jerry Cornfield contributed to this story.
Joy Borkholder is the health and wellness reporter for The Daily Herald. Her work is supported by the Health Reporting Initiative, which is sponsored in part by Premera Blue Cross. The Daily Herald maintains editorial control over content produced through this initiative.
Joy Borkholder: 425-339-3430; joy.borkholder@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @jlbinvestigates.
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