Washington state health care system faces ‘enormous stress’ as COVID hospitalizations continue to rise

The coronavirus pandemic continues to hammer Washington communities, filling hospitals at an “alarming” rate and straining health care workers particularly concerned about pregnant and unvaccinated patients, state hospital leaders said Monday.

At the Washington State Hospital Association’s briefing a little over a week ago, hospital leaders said they had seen more cases than ever and hoped infections were beginning to level off. On Monday morning, association CEO Cassie Sauer confirmed the news has only worsened.

As of Monday morning, the state’s hospitals and health care centers were treating 1,570 COVID-19 patients throughout Washington, she said. Of those, 188 are on ventilators. Eleven days ago, the hospital association had counted 1,240 patients with 152 on ventilators.