COVID-19 Information

If you have questions about COVID-19 or the state’s response generally, please visit the Washington State Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response website.

• About
• Significant Events Timeline (pdf) (Formerly known as Daily Situation Report)
• Frequently Asked Questions (Population Reduction Efforts has moved to FAQs)
• Resources

About

The health and safety of our staff, those in our care, and the community is our top priority.

The Department of Corrections began supporting Department of Health (DOH) response to COVID-19 on February 9, 2020 by providing members of the agency Department Incident Management Team (DIMT). An advanced contingency planning team launched on February 28, 2020 to support the agency response. The department officially opened its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Headquarters in response to COVID-19, including representatives from health services staff, on March 2, 2020.

Resources

News & Announcements

• Significant Events Timeline (pdf) (Formerly known as the Daily Situation Report) (updated daily, Monday-Friday)
• PRESS RELEASE: Second Incarcerated Individual in Washington Dies of COVID-19 (posted 06/24/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: First Incarcerated Individual in Washington Dies of COVID-19 (posted 06/18/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: Coyote Ridge Corrections Center Medium Security Complex on restricted movement to contain COVID-19 (posted 06/11/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: First Washington Corrections Line of Duty Death from COVID-19 (posted 05/18/2020)
• Governor Proclamation 20-28.2: Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act (pdf) (posted 05/05/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: Corrections Announces Upcoming Transfer of Individuals Back to the Community (posted 04/16/2020)
• Governor Proclamation 20-50: Reducing Prison Population (pdf) (posted 04/15/2020)
• Governor's Emergency Commutation Order (pdf) (posted 04/15/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: Department of Corrections Continues to Take Necessary Steps to Protect Health of Incarcerated (posted 04/13/2020)
• Inslee announces strategies for reducing the number of individuals incarcerated to address COVID-19 in DOC system (posted 04/13/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: Disturbance at Monroe Correctional Complex Under Control (posted 04/08/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: Additional Positive COVID-19 Tests for Incarcerated Individuals within Monroe Correctional Complex (posted 04/07/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: First Positive COVID-19 Test for Incarcerated Individual within Washington State Correctional Facility (posted 04/05/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: Issuance of N95 Respirators to Correctional Staff (posted 04/03/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: Corrections launches Rapid Staff Hiring to fill immediate needs for correctional officers (posted 03/30/2020)
• Governor Proclamation 20-35: Department Of Corrections – Community Custody Violations (pdf) (posted 03/30/2020)
  • Orden del Gobernador 20-35: Departamento de Correccionales – Violación de la Libertad Condicional (pdf) (posted 03/30/2020)
• A Stitch in Time Saves Lives (posted 03/30/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: Incarcerated Patient at Snohomish County Medical Center Tests Positive for COVID-19 (posted 03/28/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: Community Corrections Division reduces some supervision in response to COVID-19 (posted 03/24/2020)
• Governor Proclamation 20-28: Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act (pdf) (posted 03/24/2020)
• DOC working to assist in protective gown shortage (posted 03/21/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: Department of Corrections negotiates free calls and reduced digital costs for incarcerated population (posted 03/20/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: Third Confirmed Case of COVID-19 reported by Corrections Employee (posted 03/18/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: Second Department of Corrections Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19 (posted 03/14/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: First Department of Corrections Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19 (posted 03/13/2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: DOC Suspending Visitation, Limiting Other Events (posted 03/12/2020)
• Public Alerts & Notices

Department Employee Resources

COVID-19 Job Aids

• Checklist for COVID-19 Symptomatic Prison Patients (pdf) (posted 05/26/2020)
• Checklist for COVID-19 Symptomatic Work Release Patients (pdf) (posted 05/28/2020)
• COVID-19 Releasing from Isolation to the Community Checklist (pdf) (posted 04/24/2020, updated 04/27/2020)
• Secondary Screening vs. Staff Mapping Job Aid (pdf) (posted 05/07/2020)
• DOC COVID-19 Leave Guidance Job Aid (pdf) (posted 05/21/2020)
• WA State DOC COVID-19 Active Screening Questionnaire (pdf) (posted 03/30/2020, updated 07/27/2020)
• WA State DOC COVID-19 Dental Services Protocol (pdf) (posted 03/17/2020, updated 07/20/2020)
• WA State DOC COVID-19 Mental Health/Psychiatry Response Guideline (pdf) (posted 04/24/2020)
• WA State DOC COVID-19 Mapping Guidelines (pdf) (posted 04/08/2020, updated 04/23/2020)
• WA State DOC COVID-19 PPE Matrix (pdf) (posted 04/10/2020, updated 06/08/2020)
• WA State DOC COVID-19 Screening, Testing, and Infection Control Guideline (pdf) (posted 03/25/2020, updated 06/29/2020)

All Staff Memos & Messages

Memos and messages are organized with newest/most recent messages at the top of the list.

July 2020

• COVID-19 precautions for employees who carpool/vanpool (pdf) (posted 07/13/2020)
• Important Warning About Methanol-Based Hand Sanitizers/Rubs (pdf) (posted 07/09/2020)
• Announcing Corrections’ Rapid Deployment Care Facility (pdf) (posted 07/09/2020)

June 2020

• First incarcerated patient dies of COVID-19 (pdf) (posted 06/18/2020)
• Governor announces cancellation of some state employee raises and need for furloughs (pdf) (posted 06/17/2020)
• Safe Start Corrections (pdf) (posted 06/10/2020)
• COVID-19 HR Updates and Reminders (pdf) (posted 06/01/2020)

May 2020

• Assistance: Medical Assistant-Certified and Nursing Assistant-Certified (pdf) (posted 05/27/2020)
• Updated Proper Use of Face Coverings and Masks (pdf) (posted 05/22/2020)
• First Line of Duty Death from COVID-19 (pdf) (posted 05/18/2020)
• Proper Use of Face Coverings and Masks (pdf) (posted 05/18/2020)
• Prison Population Reduction Efforts (pdf) (posted 05/15/2020)
• Governor’s Directive 20-05, Freezing Hiring, Personal Services Contracts and Equipment Purchases (pdf) (posted 05/13/2020)
• Employee Self-Service (ESS) is Being Replaced by MyPortal on May 16, 2020 (pdf) (posted 05/11/2020)
• Fraudulent Unemployment Claims (pdf) (posted 05/11/2020)
• Expanded Families First COVID-19 Leave and Leave Review Following Secondary Screening (pdf) (posted 05/07/2020)
• Honoring Correctional Educators during National Teacher Appreciation Week (pdf) (posted 05/07/2020)
• Final Phase of Rapid Reentry Program (pdf) (posted 05/06/2020)
• Nurses Month 2020: You Make a Difference (pdf) (posted 05/06/2020)
• National Correctional Officers and Employees Week (pdf) (posted 05/06/2020)
• Annual Agency Award Nominees (pdf) (posted 05/01/2020)
• Extension of Governor Inslee's Stay at Home Order (pdf) (posted 05/01/2020)

April 2020

• Establishment of Regional Care Facilities (pdf) (posted 04/30/2020)
• Annual In-Service – Online Training (pdf) (posted 04/28/2020)
• Mandatory LMS Training – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (pdf) (posted 04/24/2020)
• Proper Use of PPE for COVID-19 Video (pdf) (posted 04/18/2020)
• Upcoming Transfer of Individuals Back to the Community (pdf) (posted 04/16/2020)
• Updated DOC COVID-19 PPE Matrix Memo (pdf) (posted 04/14/2020)
• Revised Return to Work Process Letter (pdf) (posted 04/14/2020)
• Employees at Higher Risk for Severe Illness (Proclamation) (pdf) (posted 04/14/2020)
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Resources (pdf) (posted 04/10/2020)
• Employees at Higher Risk for Severe Illness (pdf) (posted 04/10/2020)
• Mandatory Use of Face Coverings – All DOC Locations (pdf) (posted 04/10/2020)
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Resources (pdf) (posted 04/10/2020)
  • DOC 03-113 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Approval Request (pdf)
• COVID-19 Mapping Guidelines (pdf) (posted 04/08/2020)
• First Positive COVID-19 Test for Incarcerated Individual within Washington State Correctional Facility (pdf) (posted 04/05/2020)
• Voluntary N95 Respirator General Use (pdf) (posted 04/03/2020)
• Expansion of FMLA and Sick Leave Due to the Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) (pdf) (posted 04/02/2020)
• Updated Employee PPE Protocols for Patients on Isolation or Quarantine (pdf) (posted 04/01/2020)

March 2020

• Screening Follow Up (pdf) (posted 03/31/2020)
  • Active Screening Questionnaire (pdf)
• Active Screening - Administrative Leave Approval (pdf) (posted 03/31/2020)
• Rapid Staff Hiring (pdf) (posted 03/30/2020)
• Employee PPE Protocols for Patients on Isolation or Quarantine (pdf) (posted 03/27/2020)
• EPA Approved COVID-19 Cleaning & Sanitizing Products (pdf) (posted 03/27/2020)
• Expanded List of Cancelled Instructor-Led Trainings (pdf) (posted 03/26/2020)
• Sustainability and Environmental Awards Postponement (pdf) (posted 03/26/2020)
• Annual Agency Awards Recipients & Corrections Pride (pdf) (posted 03/25/2020)
• DOC Policy 420.380 Drug/Alcohol Testing (pdf) (posted 03/24/2020)
• Governor Inslee's Stay Home Stay Healthy Proclamation (pdf) (posted 03/23/2020)
• Governor Inslee's Stay Home Stay Healthy Proclamation (pdf) (posted 03/23/2020)
• Secondary Screening Implementation (pdf) (posted 03/21/2020)
• Secretary Message: COVID-19 (video) (posted 03/21/2020)
• Information Technology (IT) Remote Access (pdf) (posted 03/20/2020)
• Screening Protocol and Use of Administrative Leave (pdf) (posted 03/18/2020)
• Expanded List of Cancelled Instructor-led Trainings (pdf) (posted 03/18/2020)
• All COVID-19 Resources (pdf) (posted 03/17/2020)
• Encouraging Telework for Eligible Employees (pdf) (posted 03/15/2020)
• UPDATED Enhanced Screening Process: DOC Response to COVID-19 (pdf) (posted 03/15/2020)
• 2nd DOC case, Enhanced Screening, Telework (pdf) (posted 03/15/2020)
• Department of Corrections Suspending Some Annual In-service Classes (pdf) (posted 03/13/2020)

Additional Resources

Additional resources for department staff regarding employee assistance, teleworking, leave, and wellness.

• COVID-19 Corrections Staff Frequently Asked Questions (pdf) (updated 04/07/2020)
• COVID-19 Cybersecurity Awareness (pdf) (posted 03/18/2020)
• COVID-19 Leave Usage Matrix (pdf)
• DOC 03-113 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Approval Request (pdf)
• Employee Assistance Program: Coping with Stress During an Infectious Disease Outbreak (pdf) (posted 03/23/2020)
• Employee Telework Guidance - Frequently Asked Questions (pdf) (posted 04/08/2020)
• Ergonomics: Comfortable seated posture at the computer (pdf)
• Ergonomics for Home Offices
• Ergonomics Telework Self-Assessment (pdf)
• NETEC: Personal Protective Equipment for COVID-19 (video)
• Washington State Educational School Districts Meals and Childcare Information (pdf) (posted 03/18/2020)
• World Health Organization: Coping with stress during the 2019-nCoV outbreak (pdf) (posted 03/23/2020)

Recommended Resources

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• Centers for Disease Control: Get Your Home Ready
• COVID-19 Educational Materials
• Cumulative counts of COVID-19 cases by U.S. state over time
• Department of Health (DOH)
• Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases
• KING5: Washington State prisons take measures to keep coronavirus away
• TVW: Inside Olympia - Special Interview - Austin Jenkins interview with Secretary Sinclair
• Tracking the Coronavirus Contagion
• Washington State Coronavirus Response (COVID-19)
• Washington State COVID-19 Cases by County
• Washington State Local Health Departments and Districts
• World Health Organization (WHO)