UW staff member has presumptive positive test for COVID-19

March 6, 2020

UW staff member has presumptive positive test for COVID-19

The UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) announced Friday that a University of Washington staff member who works in the Roosevelt Commons East building has received a presumptive positive test for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The employee is in self-isolation at home. Out of an abundance of caution, the building, which is located west of the UW’s Seattle campus in the 4300 block of 11th Ave. NE, has been closed for appropriate cleaning until further notice.

UW classes will no longer meet in person through end of quarter

The University of Washington announced today that starting Monday, March 9, classes will no longer meet in person. For the remainder of the quarter, instructors have been asked to conduct classes and/or exams remotely, as possible, until the quarter concludes on March 20. Final exams will not be conducted in person, but may be conducted online when feasible, and at the instructor’s discretion.

Millions of US workers at risk of infections on the job, UW researchers calculate, emphasizing need to protect against COVID-19

A University of Washington researcher calculates that 14.4 million workers face exposure to infection once a week and 26.7 million at least once a month in the workplace, pointing to an important population needing protection as the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, continues to break out across the U.S. Marissa Baker, an assistant professor in the UW School of Public Health, based her calculations on research she published in 2018 in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. In that paper, Baker…

March 5, 2020

The food you need: UW expert on preparing for an extended home stay

Nutritional science expert Anne-Marie Gloster, a lecturer in the UW School of Public Health’s Nutritional Sciences Program and expert in emergency food planning, has put together this list of things to think about and foods to have on hand if you should be called on to stay at home for an extended period. “Shopping intentionally and feeding ourselves mindfully is a delicious way to reduce our stress during this time of heightened awareness about our personal and community health,” Gloster…

Visitors should avoid coming to UW campus to see cherry blossoms amid COVID-19 outbreak

The University is asking people to avoid coming to campus this year to comply with Gov. Inslee’s March 11 proclamation that prohibits large gatherings of more than 250 people as our region combats the spread of COVID-19.

President Cauce, Dr. Geoff Gottlieb discuss UW COVID-19 response at ASUW senate meeting

University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce, joined by Dr. Geoff Gottlieb, head of the UW’s Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases, met with the members of the ASUW Student Senate on March 3 to share the most current information and take questions about the University’s response and preparations for the novel coronavirus.

February 13, 2020

Effectiveness of travel bans – readily used during infectious disease outbreaks – mostly unknown, study finds

While travel bans are frequently used to stop the spread of an emerging infectious disease, a new University of Washington and Johns Hopkins University study of published research found that the effectiveness of travel bans is mostly unknown.

February 9, 2020

UPDATE: Negative coronavirus test results for fourth UW student; no confirmed cases and no more tests pending

A large 'W' is at the north entrance to the UW campus.

The UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) announced Sunday that it received negative test results for the fourth of four students who have been tested for coronavirus. Three students had previously also tested negative, and there are no remaining tests pending among any members of the UW community. There continue to be no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus among UW community members.

February 7, 2020

Soundbites & B-roll: UW expert answers questions about the novel coronavirus pandemic

Dr. Judith Wasserheit, chair of the UW Department of Global Health in the School of Public Health and part of the UW MetaCenter for Pandemic Preparedness and Global Health Security, answers questions about the novel coronavirus outbreak, its spread, the level of concern and how to best protect yourself. For journalists Download soundbites and b-roll Forum: Coronavirus and Pandemic Disease Preparedness Join Dr. Judith Wasserheit and more than a dozen other UW School of Public Health, School of Medicine and…

Interactive map shows worldwide spread of coronavirus

heatmap of China showing worldwide spread of coronavirus

University of Washington geographer Bo Zhao has created an interactive map, updated every few hours, of coronavirus cases around the world.

February 5, 2020

Fourth UW student screened for novel coronavirus; still no cases confirmed

The University of Washington was notified by Public Health – Seattle & King County that a UW student from the Seattle campus is being tested for the novel coronavirus. The student traveled from China in January and lives off campus. There continue to be no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus among UW community members.

January 30, 2020

UPDATE: Negative coronavirus test results for third UW student; no confirmed cases and no more tests pending

The UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) announced Thursday that it received negative test results for the third of three students who have been tested for coronavirus. Two students had previously also tested negative, and there are no remaining tests pending among any members of the UW community. There continue to be no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus among UW community members.

January 28, 2020

Update: Negative coronavirus test results for two people; awaiting results of third

The UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) announced Tuesday that it received negative test results for the second student of three students who have been tested for coronavirus. One student had previously tested negative, and the University anticipates receiving test results this week for the third student tested. There continue to be no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus among UW community members.

January 26, 2020

Three UW students in Seattle screened for novel coronavirus

The University of Washington was notified by Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) that three students from the UW’s Seattle campus are being screened for the novel (new) coronavirus. These three students recently traveled to Wuhan, China, and developed symptoms after returning. One person lives off campus, and that student’s test was negative for infection. Two students live in on-campus housing and are awaiting their test results. These are not confirmed cases. The two students awaiting test results…