Overlake Medical Center Postpones Elective Surgeries

BELLEVUE, WA — Bellevue's Overlake Medical Center will postpone all elective surgeries and procedures beginning Saturday, as health care systems throughout the region work to manage the strain caused by the new coronavirus outbreak

"As COVID-19 continues to impact our community and based on CDC recommendation, we have determined it is best to utilize our resources to appropriately treat the increase in patients requiring hospital care," hospital officials wrote in a statement.

Overlake said its surgical teams would evaluate what procedures were deemed elective and re-schedule operations as soon as possible.

"Overlake, like many of our regional partners facing the same challenges, will continue to provide urgent and emergency care services to those who need it, and are committed to delivering high-quality, safe care to our community," hospital officials said.

According to an update from Seattle and King County Public Health Friday, 328 illnesses linked to the virus have been confirmed in the county, and 32 people have died. Among the 5 most recent deaths was a man in his 70s who died at Overlake on March 9.