COVID-19

22 May

ESD, L&I publish guidance for common workplace safety concerns and employment scenarios during the pandemic

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Practice Management

The Employment Security Department has published Employer FAQ and Worker FAQ to address common questions as businesses resume operations. The Department of Labor and Industries has published a Paid Sick Leave FAQ. The two agencies worked together to establish a Paid Family and Medical Leave FAQ. Combined, these FAQ address a range of possible scenarios that may unfold as workplaces resume operations. Questions involving work refusal and unemployment eligibility have been especially frequent. Workers collecting unemployment must have a good cause reason...

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19 May

Gov. Inslee announces restart of non-urgent medical services in Washington

wsvma   |   COVID-19

On May 18, Gov. Inslee announced plans to resume non-urgent elective procedures, effective immediately, provided practitioners follow a specific set of criteria to protect workers and clients. The plan requires that hospitals and clinics assess their own readiness as well as their communities’ COVID-19 activity to determine to what degree non-essential services should be provided. Proclamation 20-24.1 also requires hospitals and clinics to have enough personal protective equipment to keep workers safe, employ social-distancing policies, and check visitors and patients...

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18 May

Veterinary Board of Governors sets temporary policies for VCPR/Virtual Care and Continuing Education

wsvma   |   Continuing Education, COVID-19, Professional News

The Veterinary Board of Governors released two new COVID-19 related policies today. One allows unlimited use of online continuing education through December 31, 2020. The other lifts some restrictions in the Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship rule to facilitate access to veterinary services during the COVID-19 emergency. VCPR Policy: VBOG VCPR COVID-19 Policy Stmt FINAL_5.15.20.pdf To address the difficulties related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that impact licensed veterinarians with regard to establishing a veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) in Washington State, the Veterinary Board...

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15 May

New: COVID-19: A Guide to Reopening Veterinary Medicine in Washington

wsvma   |   COVID-19

Everyone is anxiously awaiting the Governor’s announcement that we can go back to providing non-essential services. It could happen soon or it could be several more weeks before all healthcare services can resume but with safety measures in place. In anticipation of the time when we can expand business, the WSVMA is releasing COVID-19: A Guide to Reopening Veterinary Medicine in Washington (Updated May 19, 2020). The Guide, written by well-known expert Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM in partnership with the Ontario...

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15 May

SBA Issues Safe Harbor for PPP Loans Under $2M

wsvma   |   COVID-19

SBA Issues Safe Harbor for PPP Loans Under $2MThe Small Business Administration (SBA) has just released new guidance regarding the good-faith certification for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. This guidance, which was added as question #46 to the PPP FAQs, should come as welcome relief to many businesses that took out PPP loans and have struggled with the good-faith certification. The SBA states that PPP loans with original principal amounts less than $2 million (in combination with any affiliate loans) will be...

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15 May

Dept. of Health provides information about case investigations and contract tracing

wsvma   |   COVID-19

The state Department of Health (http://www.doh.wa.gov/) wants to keep everyone as informed as possible about continuing developments surrounding COVID-19 as well as guidance and resources that can be shared with employees, clients, or customers. Trusted tools in preventing disease Case investigations and contact tracing are trusted public health tools for preventing the spread of disease. This week, Gov. Jay Inslee described a statewide plan to use these tools so that more businesses can open and more people can be active in public...

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08 May

President’s Message – What if we…?

wsvma   |   COVID-19

On March 13, Governor Inslee announced restrictions on large gatherings and the closing of K-12 schools within Washington State. Although that was only seven weeks ago, it seems like several months, doesn’t it? Do you remember where your thoughts and emotions were back then? What concerns you had for your families? For your businesses and co-workers? As veterinarians, we know how to deal with hygiene and public health issues. That week I think we all realized that this was turning...

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08 May

Washington study to examine COVID-19 transmission between humans and their companion animals

wsvma   |   COVID-19

UW’s Center for One Health Research, Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab (WADDL) and WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine are launching one of the first studies to examine COVID-19 transmission between humans and their companion animals. Corona viruses are found in multiple animal species and can be zoonotic (transmitted between animals and humans). The SARS CoV2 virus that causes COVID19 is believed to have jumped to humans from a bat reservoir via an intermediate animal host. What is unclear is whether animals...

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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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