Summary

A motion introduced Wednesday by Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn would ask for a report on the effectiveness of King County's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Story

Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn on Wednesday introduced a motion asking that the University of Washington analyze the effectiveness of the COVID-19 response in King County. The report would look at how the actions of King County leaders and Public Health – Seattle & King County impacted the spread of the virus and compare health outcomes.

“The COVID-19 pandemic may well be the worst viral outbreak many of us will see in our lifetimes,” Dunn said. “Given that this is new territory for all of us, we must arm ourselves with data on what worked and what didn’t in case we are ever faced with another crisis-level outbreak.”

Dunn’s motion asks that the University of Washington conduct this study in conjunction with Public Health - Seattle & King County, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the Gates Foundation, and other organizations directly involved in the COVID-19 response in King County.

If approved, the analysis would be due by June 30, 2021. Dunn’s motion will be heard by the King County Council Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, May 19.