Stay safe during Safe Start Washington

To Our Valued Communities:

While the Stay Home, Stay Healthy restrictions that put so much of our normal daily activities on hold in March have begun to ease over much of the state, the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over.

Continuing to reduce the spread of this virus is critical if we are to succeed at overcoming this outbreak in our state. At the same time, we understand that everyone is eager to begin to return to more normal activities.

As counties move from phase to phase in the re-opening, and you weigh the activities that you are ready to engage in, we encourage you to keep the following in mind:

Don’t delay medical care. The COVID-19 outbreak put many of our normal health care activities on pause. But the time is now for us all to get back to taking care of all aspects of our health. All our health care facilities have extra precautions in place to keep our patients and visitors safe.

Whether you are overdue for routine care or you or a family member has an urgent care need, don’t delay care. Since many MultiCare providers are now performing virtual visits, you may be able to be seen by your own provider without needing to come into the clinic, depending upon what kind of care you need.

Wear a mask. As of Friday, June 26, a statewide order requires individuals to wear a face covering in indoor public spaces such as stores, offices and restaurants. The order also requires face coverings outdoors when you can’t stay six feet apart from others. Exemptions are allowed for those with certain medical conditions and children under 5.

Wearing a mask can help slow the spread of COVID-19, even if you don’t have any symptoms. This not only protects you, but protects others in the community.

Maintain physical distance. In Phase 2, gatherings with up to five people per week outside of your household are allowed. In Phase 3, that number goes up to 50. Regardless of the size of the gathering, outdoors is safer than inside, and you should still maintain six-foot distancing — even with a mask.

Wash your hands. As you leave the house more often, it’s more important than ever to wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. If you can’t get to soap and running water, use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.

If you are sick, stay home except to get any needed medical care. Even mild symptoms of illness could indicate a COVID-19 infection. If you have symptoms, or have a known exposure to COVID-19, talk to a health care provider about whether getting tested for COVID-19 is the right next step for you.

Your safety and the health of our communities is of the utmost importance to us, as we all work together to address the COVID-19 pandemic. At MultiCare, we are here for you to provide you with information, resources and — most importantly — safe care, no matter when or where you need it.

Thank you,

David Bachman, MD, Chief Medical & Quality Officer, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Network

David Chen, MD, Chief Medical Officer, MultiCare Deaconess Hospital & MultiCare Valley Hospital

Dennis Kolb, MD, Chief Medical Officer, MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital

Brian Livingston, MD, President & Chief Medical Officer, MultiCare Medical Associates

Arun Mathews, MD, Chief Medical Officer, MultiCare Auburn Medical Center & MultiCare Covington Medical Center

Michael Meyer, MD, Interim Chief Medical Officer, MultiCare Allenmore Hospital & MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

David O’Brien, MD, Senior Vice President & CEO, MultiCare Inland Northwest Region

Geoff Swanson, MD, Chief Medical Officer, MultiCare Rockwood Clinic