Watch: Gov. Jay Inslee speaks Monday on health care system reopening

Gov. Jay Inslee has scheduled a press conference at 2:30 p.m. Monday to talk about the state’s plan to reopen the entire health care system in Washington.

You can watch the press conference above, via TVW’s stream.

Others taking part in the briefing are Bill Robertson, president and chief executive officer of MultiCare, the Tacoma-based hospital system; Sally Watkins, executive director of the Washington State Nurses Association; and Vice Admiral Dr. Raquel Bono, director of the Washington state COVID-19 health care response.

On March 19, Inslee ordered a halt to elective surgeries and dental services to ensure that health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic had enough personal protective equipment.

There were several exceptions, including hospitals, and ambulatory surgical facilities could “perform any surgery that if delayed or canceled would result in the patient’s condition worsening (for example, removal of a serious cancerous tumor or dental care related to the relief of pain and management of infection.”

The governor’s office on April 29 offered guidance to hospitals and health care providers on what services, procedures and surgeries qualify as “non-urgent” that could move forward. The hospital association has said those include cancer screenings.

Inslee’s proclamation banning elective surgeries with several exceptions was in effect until Monday.

This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 11:28 AM.