Coronavirus Response, Resources and News

Coronavirus Graphic
Coronavirus

The World Health Organization formally declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. Communities across the globe are taking measures to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus. Below, you will find:

  • how the UW School of Public Health is assisting in the public health response
  • links to the latest information on what we know about the disease
  • how UW scientists are sharing their expertise via the news media.

What are we doing to help?

SEAL Team to the Rescue

Our Student Epidemic Action Leaders (SEAL) program trains graduate students in field epidemiology skills such as outbreak investigation and interviewing, then deploys them to provide critical, short-term assistance to state and local health departments. Our highly trained SEAL Team members have gone through orientation and are supporting local and state health agencies in the response to 2019-nCoV. They have committed over 100 hours a week to support contact tracing as well as active monitoring and data support.

In addition, the Office of the Dean has committed the time and services of Associate Dean for Public Health Practice Janet Baseman, a professor of epidemiology, to coordinate with state and local health agencies. Baseman also represents the School on the University of Washington's Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases.

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The University of Washington MetaCenter for Pandemic Preparedness and Global Health Security aims to save lives by limiting the extent of infectious disease epidemics. The center fosters a bold, interdisciplinary, comprehensive, and integrated systems approach spearheaded by top scientists and practitioners that focuses on improving readiness before epidemics hit. MetaCenter experts are poised to assist local and global health agencies, and have held a public forum, "Coronavirus and Pandemic Disease Preparedness: What We Know and the Way Forward".

Watch Recording

Kane Hall Forum
Doctor George Diaz telling the crowd about treating the first U.S. patient.

Mapping the Outbreak

Elizabeth "Betz" Halloran, a professor of biostatistics and member of the Fred Hutch, has partnered with Northeastern University and others on a preliminary assessment of the international spreading risk associated with the outbreak.

Coronavirus confirmed case mapping
Novel Coronavirus mapping - Fred Hutch

 

 

News stories

How delays in testing set back the U.S. coronavirus response (New York Times) - quotes Helen Chu

Dick’s Drive-In urges customers to avoid paying with cash to slow spread of coronavirus (Seattle Times) - quotes Marilyn Roberts and Marissa Baker

Jails and courthouses across Washington look for ways to protect employees, jurors and inmates from coronavirus (Seattle Times) - quotes Marc Stern

COVID-19 crisis shows cracks in underfunded public health (Seattle Times) op/ed by Betty Bekemeier

Coronavirus vaccine at least a year away, but treatment could be here in months (Newsweek) - quotes Nicole Errett 

Authorities announce 2nd coronavirus death in US (Associated Press) - quotes Trevor Bedford

UW expert answers COVID-19 questions (KOMO TV) - interviews Peter Rabinowitz

Coronavirus may have spread in US for weeks, gene sequencing suggest - (New York Times) interviews Trevor Bedford

Separating fact from fiction on COVID-19 (KING 5 TV) - interviews Peter Rabinowitz

Here are the US professions with the biggest risk of getting hit by coronavirus - and the threat goes way beyond hospitals (Business Insider) - quotes Marissa Baker

Coronavirus was identified two months ago — here's what we still don't know (Newsweek) - quotes Peter Rabinowitz and Nicole Errett

When it comes to coronavirus, we shouldn't let our feelings trump the facts (The Guardian) - opinion by Ann Bostrom and Nicole Errett

Local experts push for more preparation to confront coronavirus (KOMO 4 TV) - interviews Peter Rabinowitz

Why travel restrictions aren't stopping the coronavirus (National Geographic) - quotes Nicole Errett

More Americans worry about flu than new virus (Associated Press) - interviews Janet Baseman

Coronavirus forum brings experts together at UW (Q-13 TV) - features the MetaCenter for Pandemic Preparedness and Global Health Security and interviews public health student Nandita Somayaji

Seattle scientists, partners closing in on coronavirus vaccine (KOMO News) - quotes Rhea Coler

Olympia woman tests positive for coronavirus after cruise (My Northwest) - quotes Peter Rabinowitz

Five with coronavirus headed to Spokane hospital (KIRO 7 TV) - features Judith Wasserheit and members of a UW panel discussion (at 1:35)

Coronavirus has U.S. cities stretching to monitor self-quarantined Americans (Wall Street Journal) - mentions UW public health students on the SEAL Team

Coronavirus infection found after cruise ship passengers disperse (New York Times) - quotes Peter Rabinowitz

Home quarantine for travelers buys time as new virus spreads (Associated Press) - features photo of epidemiology student Erika Feutz

Coronavirus 'hits all the hot buttons' for how we misjudge risk (New York Times) - mentions UW faculty and students

The coronavirus outbreak has upended office life in Asia, revealing a massive gap in who can count on having a job (Business Insider India) - quotes Marissa Baker

Government extends 14-day ban on tourists travelling from China (Australia Broadcast Corp.) - interviews Peter Rabinowitz

Coronavirus cases seemed to be leveling off — not anymore (New York Times) - quotes Peter Rabinowitz

Huge shelters for coronavirus patients pose new risks, experts fear (New York Times) - quotes Nicole Errett

UW expert answers questions about the novel coronavirus pandemic (UW News) - features soundbites and B-roll with Judith Wasserheit

Cruise ship coronavirus infections double, exceeding the total for any country but China (Washington Post) - quotes Peter Rabinowitz

Can face masks prevent coronavirus? Experts say that depends (Time) - Peter Rabinowitz

Jump in coronavirus cases on ship poses a critical test for Japan (New York Times) - quotes Peter Rabinowitz and John Lynch

Inundated with flu patients, U.S. hospitals brace for coronavirus (New York Times) - quotes Nicole Errett

Can people spread coronavirus to pets? (KING 5 TV) - quotes Peter Rabinowitz

Are travel bans effective? (DEOHS) - features Nicole Errett

Spread of coronavirus highlights need for strengthened global health security - Judith Wasserheit co-authors blog post for Infectious Diseases Society of America

Robust public-health prevention is key to contain coronavirus (Seattle Times) -- op-ed by Ann Marie Kimball

Face mask hoarders may raise risk of coronavirus outbreak in the US (New York Times) - quotes Peter Rabinowitz

Your most pressing questions about the coronavirus, answered (Science News) - quotes Trevor Bedford

Why Washington state's health experts aren't panicking yet about the Wuhan coronavirus (Seattle Times) - quotes Janet Baseman

Coronavirus: Symptoms, Treatments and Science (New York Times) - quotes Peter Rabinowitz

First U.S. Case of Deadly Wuhan Coronavirus Reported in Washington State, CDC Says (Daily Beast) - quotes Janet Baseman

Response To 1st Coronavirus Case In Washington State Draws On Lessons From Measles (NPR) - features Janet Baseman

Tracking the coronavirus epidemic from Wuhan to the world (Fred Hutch) - features Trevor Bedford

Q&A Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle King County (Public Health Insider)