PeaceHealth medical facilities in Whatcom County easing COVID-19 visitor restrictions

||| FROM BEV MAYHEW for PEACEHEALTH NORTHWEST NETWORK |||

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — PeaceHealth is pleased to announce that effective Thursday, March 17, visitors are again allowed—one per patient and one at a time—at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and our PeaceHealth Medical Group Bellingham and Lynden clinics. Due to ongoing infection prevention protocols, hospitalized COVID-19-positive patients are still not allowed visitors, with some exceptions.

Visitors are still required to wear a mask in healthcare settings, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health department guidelines.

The easing of restrictions comes as COVID-19 transmission rates in Whatcom County continue to fall. In alignment with other Washington state healthcare organizations, PeaceHealth is using the CDC’s transmission map to guide us on next steps in COVID-19 response in our communities. The decision was made after Whatcom County had maintained a “substantial” transmission risk level—vs. high, moderate or low—for more than seven days, thereby meeting PeaceHealth’s criteria for easing restrictions.

PeaceHealth eased restrictions in its Skagit County facilities earlier this week, and is monitoring transmission rates in San Juan County, with the hope of soon easing restrictions in our hospital and clinic in Friday Harbor.

Although we are pleased that we seem to be through the worst of the COVID-19 delta and omicron waves, we know we must remain vigilant and cautious. With patient and caregiver safety at the forefront of all we do, PeaceHealth is prepared to immediately tighten up protocols should these trends again reverse.

About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has more than 15,000 caregivers, a group practice with more than 1,200 providers and 10 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.