February 11, 2021
In today’s update, you will find important information, including:
- Prepare for Winter Weather
- Live Audio Broadcast Recording and Summary
- KPNW 3M N95 Masks are the Real Deal
- Updated Resource Access Center Flier
Prepare for Winter Weather
Snow is in the forecast Thursday through Sunday. Except in the most extreme circumstances, we plan to operate all our facilities, including COVID vaccination sites. If, however, we find it necessary for safety reasons to modify a facility’s schedule, that information will be (1) recorded on the KP Employee Line (866-813-0038), (2) emailed via an update from the Regional Command Center, and (3) shared by your manager. Review how to prepare here. KP.org will provide guidance for members. The Regional Command Center will meet regularly to continually assess the situation and coordinate across operations.
Live Audio Broadcast Recording and Summary
If you missed Tuesday’s audio broadcast, you can:
- Click here to listen to the recording (password: kpnw2021)
- Find a summary of key points here . Topics included:
- Situation Update for KPNW and States of OR and WA | Dr. Mary Giswold (0:00 – 04:27)
- Vaccine Distribution Overview | Junior Lyman (04:48 – 14:37)
- Vaccinating Seniors | Dr. Eric Warshaw (14:38 – 23:16)
- Vaccinating Educators | Wendy Watson (23:17 – 29:47)
- Clinical Vaccine Update | Dr. Katie Sharff (29:48 – 43:49)
- Recap and Recognition | Wendy Watson (43:50 – 46:00)
The next LIVE audio broadcast will be on Tuesday, February 23, starting at 12:10 p.m.
Overall COVID-19: Numbers are trending in the right direction. Our 7-day average for COVID-19 is 62 new cases a day, down from a high of 275 in late November: a decline in KP employees testing positive and no new cases in vaccinated employees.
Eligibility for Vaccine:
In Oregon, everyone in Phase 1a, Groups 1 to 4; and Phase 1b, Groups 1 and 2 (childcare providers, early learning and K-12 educators and staff, and people 80 and older) are currently eligible for the vaccine. More information: Oregon Health Authority COVID-19 vaccine page.
This week, the OHA expanded eligibility to Group 2, which includes adults 80 and older. The remaining age groups and eligibility dates are:
Group 3: Seniors 75 and older, eligible February 15
Group 4: Seniors 70 and older, eligible February 22
Group 5: All Oregonians 65 and older, eligible March 1
In Washington, everyone in Phase 1a and Phase 1b, Tier 1 (B1) is currently eligible, including anyone 65 and older, as well as people 50 and older living in a multigenerational household. More information: Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 vaccine page.
Vaccinating Educators:
In the Portland Metro area, we’re approaching educator groups in 4 waves:
- All employees providing in person instruction, pre-K to first grade teachers and support staff, bus drivers, custodians, nutrition service employees, all emergency childcare facilities operating in person. (36,000 educators)
- Educators grades 2-5: 7,900
- Educators grades 6-8: 4,000
- Educators grade 9-12: 17,000
- We’re in the middle of wave 3, expanding to wave 4 next week.
- KPWA/Educator partnership in WA – Educators not yet eligible. WA must be 50% though phase B1 before this can happen, so sometime in the spring.
Supply: We continue to receive new vaccine, but not enough to keep up with demand. Not everyone who is eligible is able to get the vaccine. This week, all of our appointments for 80 and older were filled in just a few hours. But more is on the way and supplies should start to increase.
Supply Chain Verifies That Our 3M N95 Masks are the Real Deal
In response to news reports of counterfeit 3M N95 masks (model numbers 1860, 1860S and 1870+) in Washington, we have verified the authenticity of KPNW’s inventory. KP only purchases 3M N95s from established distributors who only receive their masks directly from 3M. We have not received any donations of 3M N95s and do not plan to accept future donations. If you purchased a 3M N95 respirator for personal use, you should consider verifying its authenticity by reviewing the steps contained in a letter from 3M.
Opt-In Weekly COVID-19 Testing Phase 2: Health Care Personnel
Health care personnel (HCPs) in hospital and ambulatory settings can now opt-in for weekly COVID-19 nasal swab testing. Testing can be accessed via the decision tree on kp.org.
HCPs may participate whether or not they have received a COVID-19 vaccine. HCPs should remember that weekly testing does not change our continued careful use of PPE and Infection Prevention policies when taking care of our members, and should follow our universal masking and eye protection guidelines in our facilities.
This is the second phase of the opt-in testing program, which initially opened to hospital employees working in the ED, ICU, COVID-19 units and Anesthesia departments. We are phasing in groups of employees based upon their risk and exposure with suspected and diagnosed COVID-19. Additional groups will follow in the next few weeks to months if our testing capacity allows.
Quick Facts: Vaccinations
Vaccination data is now included on the COVID-19 Quick Facts Dashboard.
NWP 365 Podcast Episodes
Episode 133 | Dr. Dacones speaks to Dr. Spindel about COVID-19, various strains, inpatient/outpatient therapeutics, trials, and testing.
UPDATED FLIER| Transportation Assistance for Members
For staff outside care delivery who need to refer a member for transportation assistance, please refer them to a Resource Access Center (RAC) specialist at 503-571-8005. Please note, RAC specialists are currently working remotely, and not available within MOBs (they will be returning soon). Review the Resource Access Center flier to see all available assistance.