COVID-19 inpatient volumes holding steady, for now

The volume of COVID-19 inpatients has been “relatively flat” in recent weeks, with about 90 across four hospital campuses, said Lisa Brandenburg, president of UW Medicine Hospitals & Clinics. Intensive care units are running at about 85% of capacity across UW Medical Center (Montlake and Northwest campuses), Harborview Medical Center and Valley Medical Center, and plans are in place to expand them, if necessary, she said.

Public health guidance on socializing and personal cautions, and governmental restrictions on businesses’ operations are making a meaningful difference across King County, Brandenburg said, causing a “slight downturn” in patient numbers recently.

“It’s important to continue to manage this so we’re prepared for a surge, because the numbers could still increase,” she said.