COVID I&Q Announcement

I’m writing to let you know that the Public Health – Seattle & King County COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine (I&Q) program will be ending in September 2023. We will begin limiting new admissions after September 1, 2023, with the final check out date and closure of the I&Q program on September 13, 2023.

The King County COVID-19 I&Q program was the first of its kind in the US when it opened in March 2020 and has since served about 5,000 guests. We are now in a different place in the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus is circulating widely, but we also have increased community immunity against COVID-19, due to vaccination and post-infection immunity. Fewer people are getting tested for COVID-19, meaning it can be difficult to quickly identify potentially infectious people. Lastly, the expiration of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration has meant significant decreases in funding for our COVID-19 prevention work.

We recognize that the resources provided by the I&Q program helped fill a much-needed gap for supportive recovery services that people experiencing homelessness need. We are exploring alternative options and will share updated COVID-19 guidance for homeless service sites in the coming weeks. We will join the August 9th call for Homeless Service Providers and other venues to provide details about this and answer questions.

Due to decreased federal funding for COVID-19 prevention, as of September 1, 2023, we will also be reducing two other COVID-19 services impacting homeless services sites:

• The COVID-19 investigations team will be downsizing, and this will reduce capacity to provide significant consultation and support to homeless services facilities experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks. We will still accept outbreak reports and provide consultation and guidance.
• The HEART team will end its mobile testing services and shift its focus to vaccination and outreach services.

Homeless service providers can continue to order COVID-19 over the counter antigen test kits through Public Health here until December 2023 or until supplies last. 

Please continue to report and request consultation for COVID-19 and other communicable disease outbreaks to 206-296-4774, or online here.

You can still reach the COVID-19 I&Q program at 206-848-0710 until September 13, 2023. Staff are available to take your call 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Or visit our I&Q webpage for information and guidance.

Thank you to you and your staff for your work throughout the pandemic and moving forward. You all have been and continue to be integral in supporting some of our most vulnerable people. We’re grateful for your ongoing work and partnership.

Elysia Gonzales, RN, MPH

Medical Epidemiologist | Team Manager, Investigations and Response

Communicable Disease Epidemiology & Immunization Section

Public Health - Seattle & King County