Dear Families and Friends,

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has updated its visitation guidance to allow for visitors within the facility.  While we are excited about these relaxed restrictions, we must also comply with the Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) and the WA State Department of Health (DOH) Safe Start for Long Term Care Recommendations and Requirements

https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/residential-care-services/safe-start-long-term-care-plan

The Safe Start for Long Term Care mandates a phased approach to resuming indoor visitation and does not allow indoor visits (with the exception of Compassionate Care situations and Essential Support Persons) until Phase 3.  The ability of a Long Term Care Facility to advance through the phases is dependent upon the rate of COVID-19 activity within the community.  Currently, Snohomish County has a rate of >75 cases/100,000 for the past 2 weeks which puts us in Phase 1 per The Safe Start guidelines.

https://coronavirus.wa.gov/what-you-need-know/roadmap-recovery-metrics

We continue to check county case rates on a regular basis and look forward to a time when we can resume indoor visitation.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.