As COVID-19 cases spike, so do concerns over hospital capacity

COVID-19 cases are surging, especially in South King County. King County reached a new peak, with 308 cases reported each day last week. Public Health Seattle and King County reported that the number is four times higher than in September. It’s more than 100 cases a day greater than when the outbreak started last spring.

Hospitals are paying close attention. The Washington State Hospital Association reported hospitalizations lag three to four weeks behind the surge in positive tests, and deaths follow.

“It is terrifying to think we could end up with a lot of people who are exceptionally sick with COVID and need extreme care, and it would challenge everyone’s access to health care,” said Cassie Sauer, president of the Washington State Hospital Association.

Sauer said hospitals are already looking at space to treat more COVID-19 patients. But she said it is not just space. Staffing is a limiting factor too. And they’re checking which surgeries could be canceled with the least impact.

Health experts said behavior needs to change. If not, hospitals will be overwhelmed. And whether or not you and your loved ones get COVID-19, it could still affect you.

“So if you’re scheduled for cancer surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, your surgery could be delayed if we’re overrun with COVID,” said Sauer.

They are urging people to wear masks, social distance and wash their hands. Contact tracing reveals most cases are linked to small social gatherings.

With COVID-19 cases at an all-time high, could more restrictions be on the way?

Dr. Jeff Duchin, with Public Health Seattle and King County, said that is possible. "If we can’t get enough people behaving safely enough and cases continue to rise, and we feel our health care system is being compromised, we will have to make policy changes that will involve cutting back activities people can do in the community, " said Duchin on Friday.

They’re urging people to stay home for Thanksgiving.

“If we’re celebrating it unsafely this year, we’re going to have a whole lot more people who are dead next year,” said Sauer.

Cox Media Group