STATE OF WASHINGTON

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
PO Box 47890 ⚫ Olympia, Washington 98504-7890
Tel: 360-236-4030 ⚫ 711 Washington Relay Service

ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH
20-02
COVID-19 Testing of Residents and Staff of Nursing Homes
and Assisted Living Facilities with Memory Care Units
WHEREAS, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has issued Proclamation 20-05,
subsequently amended and extended, proclaiming a statewide state of emergency due to an
outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States and community spread of
COVID-19 in Washington State; and
WHEREAS, Long-term care facilities are at high risk of severe COVID-19 outbreaks due to
their congregate nature; and
WHEREAS, Long-term care facility staff and volunteers, including asymptomatic carriers of
COVID-19, are the most likely source of introduction of the disease into a facility given current
visitor restrictions; and
WHEREAS, Long-term care facilities’ resident populations are generally comprised of people at
highest risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, including older adults with underlying
chronic medical conditions; and
WHEREAS, Governor Inslee has issued proclamations requiring and the Department of Health
and Department of Social and Health Services have issued guidance recommending the
implementation of numerous COVID-19 prevention and control measures in long-term care
facilities, including restricting visitors and implementing screening measures for staff and
residents; and
WHEREAS, Comprehensive testing of long-term care facility residents and staff will show the
scope and magnitude of COVID-19 infections in these facilities and help inform COVID-19
prevention and control efforts to limit transmission among residents and staff.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John Wiesman, Washington State Secretary of Health, as a result of
the above-noted situation, and under RCW 43.70.130, RCW 70.05.070, WAC 246-100-036, and
any other applicable authority, do hereby order the following:
Except for those facilities that completed a COVID-19 point prevalence survey of residents
and staff on or after April 1, 2020, every nursing home by June 12, 2020, and every assisted
living facility with a memory care unit by June 26, 2020, must:

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Offer COVID-19 tests to all residents and administer tests to all consenting residents;
Require all staff to be tested for COVID-19 and administer tests to all staff, except those who
provide medical justification for declining testing from a licensed health care provider;
Contact doh-cbts.imt@doh.wa.gov for assistance as soon as reasonably possible if unable
after diligent efforts to arrange for the administration of tests by legally authorized
individuals;
Comply with all applicable laws when offering tests to, requiring tests of, administering tests
to residents and staff, including, but not limited to, any laws governing residents’ health care
decision-making;
Ensure timely and proper submission of test specimens to authorized laboratories along with
all information the laboratories require to perform the tests, report test results, and obtain
payment; and immediately report positive test results for residents and staff to the
Department of Social and Health Services (at 24/7 Hotline: 1-800-562-6078; online
reporting: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/residential-care-services/residential-care-servicesonline-incident-reporting; email: CRU@dshs.wa.gov; or fax: 360-725-2644).

A staff member is any employee, contractor, volunteer, or other personnel who provides health
care, personal care, social, administrative, clerical, dietary, environmental, or any other kind of
services in the facility.
The state of Washington will provide test kits and personal protective equipment (PPE) for
administering tests to every facility at no cost. If a facility does not receive enough test kits or
PPE to provide tests to all residents and staff, it must use every test it can safely administer and
promptly notify doh-cbts.imt@doh.wa.gov, but otherwise will not be deemed to be in violation
of this order for not providing tests to all residents and staff.
Facilities are not obligated to pay laboratories for tests performed for residents or staff.
Laboratories will obtain payment from CMS and HCA for tests performed for those residents
and staff who are covered by Medicare and Medicaid. The state of Washington will pay
laboratories for tests performed for staff who are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid.
This order shall take effect immediately and remain in effect until rescinded or superseded by a
subsequent order of the Secretary of Health or until the Governor issues a proclamation declaring
the termination of the state of emergency declared by Proclamation 20-05, as amended and
extended by subsequent amendatory proclamations, whichever is earlier.
Signed this 28th day of May, 2020.

John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH
Secretary of Health

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