WHEREAS, SARS is a new disease with significant morbidity and mortality that can travel rapidly between countries; and
WHEREAS, SARS can infect a high proportion of healthcare workers compounding its effect on the health care delivery system; and
WHEREAS, a local outbreak of SARS would represent a public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, preparedness planning and development of health care system capacity to respond to a SARS outbreak would be both relevant and applicable in effectively responding to inevitable naturally-occurring disasters as well as non-communicable disease disasters; and
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to enhance public health and medical care systems to support medical care for large affected populations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE KING COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH directs Public Health - Seattle and King County to increase the public health and health care systems' ability to effectively respond to and control a potential SARS outbreak in King County. To that end King County health care providers, hospitals and other health care facilities should develop SARS preparedness plans appropriate for their practice settings based on SARS preparedness guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in collaboration with Public Health - Seattle & King County, including provisions for:
