University of Washington announced on May 3 that all students will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 this coming fall. View UW News coverage for details or President Cauce’s campus communication. Information on vaccine access, as well as information about support resources and campus operations, can be found on the University’s updated Novel coronavirus webpages. Autumn quarter instruction starts September 29.
News and Updates
Health One, a new kind of 9-1-1 response team, expands in the U District
Earlier this week, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Fire Chief Harold Scoggins announced the launch of a second Health One unit to expand the program to the U District. Health One is a 9‑1‑1 response team comprised of firefighters/EMTs and case managers who are specifically trained to help people experiencing mental illness, substance use disorder and non-emergency medical issues.
With the second Health One unit becoming operational on April 15, the program will now cover the U District and Ballard in addition to the downtown core and Capitol Hill.
Each Health One unit includes two firefighters/EMTs and one case manager from the Human Services Department Aging and Disability Services Division. Unlike other emergency responders, the Health One units can spend more time with the individual in distress and connect them with the services that will help them remain stable after the team leaves the scene. This could include providing the individual a referral to a shelter, helping them schedule a next-day appointment or supplying them food and clothing.
Health One dovetails with the U District Partnership’s existing outreach program operated by REACH. The REACH Care Coordinator, David Delgado, works with individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness to help them achieve stability. Through daily outreach and ongoing relationship building, David helps homeless neighbors access essential resources including housing, health care and treatment.
Commencement 2021: Celebrating worldwide
This year’s graduating class will celebrate through a highly interactive virtual commencement. UW President Ana Mari Cauce announced the online format in an April 1 letter to graduating students. On June 12, 2021, the virtual event will include many elements of a traditional graduation to be shared across the globe with friends, family and classmates. Learn more about the virtual festivities here.
Spring quarter to continue current virtual course patterns
It’s almost a year since most UW students, faculty and staff transitioned to remote class and work. With the exception of the Health Sciences schools, the Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma campuses have been quiet despite full workloads.
Most classes will remain virtual during spring quarter, as President Cauce and Provost Richards detailed in January, along with early thinking about the University’s outlook for summer and fall. If case numbers continue to fall, precautionary measures like face coverings and distancing are followed, and vaccine supply increases, it’s possible more in-person activities could happen in the next few months.
Cherry blossom season is an especially beautiful time on the Seattle campus, but again this year the best way to enjoy the blossoms will be virtually. UW will again provide live web-camera access and discourage in-person visits. View the blossom announcement here for more details.
COVID-19 testing site opens in UW parking lot E1
This post contains information that was accurate at time of publication – January 2021 – but is now outdated. For current information regarding COVID Testing, please visit COVID-19 Testing and Locations | UW Medicine.
A new, free COVID-19 testing site is now available to the public in the University of Washington’s E1 parking lot off Montlake Blvd NE just south of University Village.
To schedule a test at the E1 site and view details, click here.
Testing location:
Montlake Blvd NE & Walla Walla Rd
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 477-3977
UW students, faculty or staff already enrolled in the Husky Coronavirus Testing program should continue to use access to testing through HCT rather than the new E1 site so that HCT enrollee testing data remain part of that program.
For more resources and additional COVID-19 testing locations offered by UW Medicine, visit https://www.uwmedicine.org/coronavirus/testing
For more resources and additional COVID-19 testing locations in King County, visit: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/testing.aspx