Omicron Emergency Operations Center Closed Down in Wenatchee

The Omicron Emergency Operations Center at Wenatchee Valley College is now closed, having shut down Friday.

The Chelan Douglas Health District intended the center to operate for four weeks after opening in mid-January.

The district says the center served its purpose of monitoring for Omicron surges and coming to the aid of schools, utilities and health care providers affected by the outbreak.

The Health District's Incident Management Team is now dealing with those issues.

“So the monitoring won’t stop,” said Stephen Rinaldi, EOC manager and the Chelan County fire marshal. “It will just be transitioned over to the Incident Management Team.”

Chelan-Douglas Health District interim health officer Dr. James Wallace said the closing of the Emergency Operations Center does not mean the Omicron wave is over.

“We are coming out of the surge, but people still need to remain vigilant,” Wallace said. “That means wearing your mask, washing your hands and not gathering in large groups. COVID-19, including Omicron, is still very prevalent in our communities, so it is extremely important that we stay the course.”

The joint effort COVID-19 Triage Center from Chelan-Douglas Health District and Confluence Health also closed its operation Friday at Saddlerock Church in Wenatchee.