COVID-19

08 May

ICYMI – Important COVID-19 Links

wsvma   |   COVID-19

Here are several important links related to the pandemic that have been sent out in the last week. Updated: Interim Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Veterinary Clinics Treating Companion Animals During the COVID-19 Response - CDC Social distancing recommended for Animals – CDC Safe Start Washington: A Phased Approach to Recovery – Office of the Governor Interpretive Statement Related to Proclamation by the Governor 20-24, Restrictions on Non-Urgent Medical Procedures – Office of the Governor Corononavirus Hazard Considerations for...

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06 May

What exactly does the Governor’s healthcare guidance mean for veterinarians?

wsvma   |   COVID-19

We get it – the Governor’s Interpretive Statement for what veterinarians can do under current governmental mandates is vague and doesn’t address veterinary medicine. Many clinics are opening up for full service again, even though it’s not at all evident this is allowed. Here’s a synopsis, however unhelpful, for what you can do. (Unless you practice in Snohomish. See below for more information.) You can perform any treatment/procedure/surgery that if you didn't, it would result in worsening a life threatening or debilitating...

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01 May

Governor Inslee issues guidance on non-urgent or elective procedures

wsvma   |   COVID-19

On March 19, 2020, Gov. Inslee issued Proclamation 20-24 that ordered a delay of health care services, procedures, or surgeries that are not anticipated to cause harm to the patient. The Proclamation, which is in effect through May 18, is meant to ensure the health system can manage surge capacity of ill patients and conserve PPE. The proclamation addresses human healthcare. On March 23 Governor Inslee released of “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” that included veterinary services. On Wednesday, the Governor issued...

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24 April

Guidance for veterinarians & veterinary staff during the COVID-19 response

wsvma   |   COVID-19

As announced in the WSVMA Alert dated April 23, 2020, CDC has published new Interim Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Veterinary Clinics during the COVID-19 Response. This guidance is for veterinarians and veterinary staff providing care to companion animals. The intent is to facilitate preparedness and to ensure practices are in place in a veterinary clinical setting to help people and animals stay safe and healthy. The CDC guidance addresses: What do we currently know about animals and COVID-19? Advise...

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24 April

Governor announces Washington’s COVID-19 recovery plan

wsvma   |   COVID-19

Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday laid out his vision for the eventual safe return to public life amid the COVID-19 outbreak and described the state’s approach for the gradual return to public life. Depending on health projections for the spread of the virus, some distancing restrictions may be in place for weeks or months to come, he indicated. With Washington under a stay home order until May 4, Inslee said that to lift it, he would need to see: Increased testing...

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24 April

Is COVID-19 changing the way you spend time outdoors?

wsvma   |   COVID-19

Does that increase the risk of exposure of you, your family, or dogs to ticks or tick-borne diseases? You are invited by researchers at The University of Georgia, Hollins University, Duke University, Clemson University, and the University of Rhode Island to participate in a research study entitled “Investigating COVID-19 impacts on the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in people and pets”. The purpose of this study is to determine if COVID-19 restrictions on society have had an effect on the time that people...

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24 April

Having a difficult time coping with the COVID crisis?

wsvma   |   COVID-19

We’ve all heard about the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, but were you aware of the Disaster Distress Helpline? The 24/7, 365-day-a-year national hotline, run by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) is dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Normally, this service helps people in the aftermath of wildfires, severe storms, floods, earthquakes and incidents of mass violence. But the Helpline also answers calls and...

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23 April

Confirmation of COVID-19 in Two Pet Cats in New York

wsvma   |   COVID-19

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) today announced the first confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infection in two pet cats. These are the first pets in the United States to test positive for SARS-CoV-2. The cats lived in two separate areas of New York state. Both had mild respiratory illness and are expected to make a full recovery. SARS-CoV-2 infections have...

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23 April

Updated information on animal testing for SARS-COV-2

wsvma   |   COVID-19

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) updated its SARS-COV-2 ANIMAL TESTING GUIDANCE that was released earlier this week. You can read the complete information about criteria on their website, but here is the updated criteria for testing: Criteria Epidemiological Risk   Clinical Features A Animal with history of close contact with a person suspected or confirmed COVID-19.     AND   Animal has clinical signs of a new, concerning illness that is suspicious of an infectious disease. B Animal with exposure to a known high-risk environment (i.e. where a human outbreak occurred),...

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23 April

Veterinary Board of Governors issues updated information on record-keeping during the COVID-19 crisis

wsvma   |   COVID-19

The Veterinary Board of Governors has updated its guidance on providing essential services and keeping records during the emergency. Essential Procedures Additional Guidance COVID-19 Non-Urgent Medical Procedures should be delayed to preserve medical equipment and supplies. Each patient and situation is unique. Therefore, the veterinarian must exercise sound professional judgment to determine which situations may be safely managed via telemedicine, which may be safely postponed, and which can only be appropriately managed in-person without postponement. New: Medical records should reflect the decision to postpone...

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