Photos: A look back at Covid in Seattle, 5 years later

March 13, 2025 / 12:24 pm

caption: A collection of images from 2020 and 2021 in western Washington.

ive years after the start of the first coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., we reflect on the images that stayed with us from a time marked by fear, loss, and uncertainty.

The global health crisis stopped the Seattle area in its tracks, changing life as we knew it. Isolation and distance followed, and then, a mandatory stay-at-home order issued by former Washington Governor Jay Inslee.

Seemingly overnight, everything changed. What was initially thought to be a temporary, two-week order lasted far longer. Every facet of life was impacted.

Businesses closed their doors. Students attended school virtually. Playgrounds were roped off with caution tape. The health care system was completely overwhelmed. In less than 48 hours, the CenturyLink Field Event Center was transformed into a 250-bed military field hospital.

Seattleites found new and creative ways to foster connection and adapt amidst unrelenting grief and loneliness.

From the first known coronavirus outbreak unfolding at the Life Care Center of Kirkland in March of 2020, KUOW documented the changing landscape and impact of that historic time as well as its aftermath.

caption: A health worker talks with Susan Hailey, 76, in her room at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, on Friday, March 13, 2020, in Kirkland.

caption: Blue ribbons and flowers are tied around trees outside of the Life Care Center of Kirkland on Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Kirkland. Community member Tricia LaVoice tied them there to show the residents of the long-term care facility that the community cares. "Love really is a big part of healing," LaVoice said.

caption: Shelves inside Fred Meyer are shown empty of hand sanitizer, facial masks and rubbing alcohol, on Monday, March 2, 2020, on 120th Ave Northeast in Kirkland.

caption: Dorothy Campbell sits in her son, Charlie Campbell's vehicle, after knocking on her husband, Gene Campbell's window at Life Care Center of Kirkland and speaking to him through the phone, on Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Kirkland.

caption: First responders and members of the Kirkland Fire Department arrive at the Life Care Center of Kirkland to transport a patient to the hospital on Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Kirkland.

caption: Dorothy Campbell talks to her husband, Gene Campbell, on the phone through his window at the Life Care Center of Kirkland on Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Kirkland. Dorothy's son Charlie Campbell came from Silver City, New Mexico, to bring his mother to see his father. "It’s kind of tough but it’s the best we can do at this point," he said.

caption: An unidentified patient is transported to the hospital from the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility at the epicenter of the first coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., on Monday, March 2, 2020, in Kirkland.

caption: Members of a ServPro cleaning crew look out of a window before taking a break from cleaning the interior of the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state, on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Kirkland.

caption: Members of a Servpro cleaning crew line up before entering the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility at the epicenter of the first coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Kirkland.

caption: A piece of paper meant to look like a previously issued parking ticket is shown under the windshield wiper of a vehicle with a handwritten note reading 'I got laid off,' on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, on Ballard Avenue Northwest in Seattle.

caption: Rabbi Daniel Weiner gets ready to live-stream an empty Shabbat service at Temple de Hirsch Sinai on Friday, March 13, 2020, in Bellevue.

caption: Employee Health Nurse at UW Northwest Hospital Jeff Gates exits a tent at UW Medicine's drive-through coronavirus testing clinic on Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Seattle.

caption: Pat Herrick holds a picture of her 89-year-old mother, Elaine Herrick, at the Life Care Center of Kirkland on Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Kirkland. Elaine Herrick had died early Thursday morning while in the care of Life Care Center amid a deadly COVID-19 outbreak. Seven hours after learning of her mother's death, Pat Herrick received a call from Life Care: her mother was doing great. She had no fever and was showing no symptoms of COVID-19. Herrick alerted them of her mother's death.

caption: Kaas Tailored employees sew masks on Monday, March 23, 2020, at the Kaas Tailored furniture factory in Mukilteo.

caption: Khai Tran, a utility worker with Seattle Parks and Recreation, sprays water onto a swing-set before a mixture of bleach and water is applied to the West Woodland Park Playground as a result of the coronavirus outbreak on Thursday, March 19, 2020, in Seattle.

caption: 'Alone Together' reads a handwritten sign placed in the windows of a South Lake Union building, shown on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, in Seattle.

caption: A swing set is shown off limits and surrounded by caution tape as a result of the coronavirus outbreak on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at Seward Park in Seattle.

caption: U.S. Army soldiers from the 627th Army Hospital from Fort Carson, Colorado, as well as soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord set up a 250-bed military field hospital for non COVID-19 patients on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at the CenturyLink Field Event Center in Seattle.

caption: Lit windows form the shape of a heart at the Hyatt Regency, visible from Sea Crest Park along Harbor Avenue Southwest on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, in Seattle.

caption: A light rail passenger reads the Seattle Times while wearing blue latex gloves on Thursday, March 26, 2020, at Westlake Station in Seattle.

caption: The Meridian Playground is shown roped off with caution tape on Friday, April 10, 2020, in Seattle. Fifteen of Seattle's city parks were closed over the weekend in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak

caption: From left, sisters Mia Hurtado, 14, Miliani Hurtado, 12, and Marleni Hurtado, 10, wait in line for walk and drive through confessions with Father Jose Alvarez on Friday, April 24, 2020, in the parking lot at Holy Roman Catholic Church in White Center.

caption: A mural of a health care worker is shown through a passing King County Metro bus on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, along South Main Street in Seattle.

caption: QFC and Fred Meyer pharmacists wear face shields at a free drive-thru coronavirus testing site on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, in the parking garage at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

caption: Washington National Guard soldier Dahdia Hicks organizes jars of peanut butter along an assembly line of various food items on Tuesday, April 21, 2020, along East Marginal Way South in Seattle.

caption: Live-streaming cameras are shown as Isaac Scott performs during a virtual Le Faux happy hour show on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at Julia's on Broadway in Seattle.

caption: Ximena Vaca Torres, 8, puts away her backpack on her first day of 3rd grade at Mount View Elementary school on Thursday, September 2, 2021, in Seattle.

caption: Cleveland Stem High School senior Parris Sanjose laughs with classmates before the in-person commencement ceremony on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Seattle.

caption: Richard Vialva, a medical assistant with International Community Health Services, holds a coronavirus testing swab on Thursday, April 16, 2020, at the ICHS testing area in Shoreline. "Our whole country is filled with people who are unsure of their status or can't get tested," said Vialva. "I hope we're giving people some relief."

caption: Leo Padua, a 17-year-old senior at Ingraham High School, and Morgen White, right, an 18-year-old senior at Ballard High School, jump on a trampoline with balloons during their own prom celebration in Leo's backyard on Saturday, May 23, 2020, in Seattle.

caption: Midwife Jenn Linstad, left, and Jake Black, right, hold Hope Black's hands as she breathes through a contraction at 2:25 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2020, at the couple's home on Vashon Island. Hope and Jack Black opted for a home birth, changing their birth plan, as a result of the coronavirus.

caption: The observation area of a mass Covid-19 vaccination site is shown on Wednesday, March 10, 2021, inside the Lumen Field Events Center in Seattle. The site will be the largest civilian-led vaccination site in the country.

caption: Lauren Alexander is vaccinated against Covid-19 on Thursday, April 15, 2021, at Lumen Field Event Center in Seattle. As of Thursday, anyone 16 years of age and older is eligible.

caption: People watch from their apartment windows as various protest groups join together before marching on the night of the 2020 Presidential election on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at Cascade Playground in Seattle.

caption: From left, registered nurse Shu Kuang, registered nurse Tina Nguyen and patient services representative Denny Ho stand for a portrait following a shift of Covid-19 testing on Friday, November 20, 2020, at the International Community Health Services drive thru testing site on 8th Avenue South in Seattle's International District.

caption: Mark Radford, a paramedic with King County Medic One, administers a Covid-19 test on Wednesday, November 18, 2020, in the parking lot of the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center along Southwest Campus Drive in Federal Way.

caption: Jackson Elementary kindergarteners distance themselves while lining up to return from recess on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at the school along Federal Avenue in Everett. With hybrid learning, students have the option to attend in-person classes two days per week.

caption: The Paramount Theatre marquee reads 'One Year Closed 3/11/20 - 3/11/21,' as the sun sets on Thursday, March 11, 2021, along Pine Street in Seattle.

caption: Registered nurse Tina Nguyen administers a Covid-19 test on Friday, November 20, 2020, at the International Community Health Services drive thru testing site on 8th Avenue South in Seattle's International District.

caption: A line forms outside of Costco on Monday, November 16, 2020, on 4th Avenue South in Seattle. New statewide restrictions were announced by Gov. Jay Inslee on Sunday to curb the rapid spread of Covid-19.

caption: Doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine are drawn out during a vaccine clinic set up by the Somali Health Board to vaccinate 100 seniors on Wednesday, February 3, 2021, at Brighton Apartments, a complex for seniors, on Rainier Avenue South in Seattle.

caption: Carter Renee cuts Alan Davidson's hair on Wednesday, October 21 , 2020, at the patio salon at their home in Seattle.

caption: A sign reads 'No Entry Without Appointment' on Thursday, January 28, 2021, at a drive-thru Covid-19 vaccination clinic at the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup. The clinic vaccinated approximately 2,000 people in phases 1A and 1B of the state’s vaccination plan on Thursday.

caption: Seattle Santa Dan Kemmis talks with 4-year-old Otto on Sunday, December 6, 2020, from inside a snow globe at the intersection of Greenwood Avenue North and North 76th Street in Seattle.

caption: A line of vaccine tents are lit up as the sun goes down on Thursday, January 28, 2021, during a free drive-thru Covid-19 vaccination clinic at the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup. The clinic vaccinated approximately 2,000 people in phases 1A and 1B of the state’s vaccination plan on Thursday.

caption: From left, friends Nile, Julia, Ben and Catherine play UNO while waiting for Men In Black to begin on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at the drive-in theater at Marymoor Park in Redmond.

caption: Muralist Carlos Nieto-Mosqueda, right, works on a neighborhood mural project at the intersection of Beacon Avenue South and South Hanford Street on Monday, July 20, 2020, in Seattle. "It only makes sense for color to brighten up a neighborhood," said chef Tarik Abdullah.

caption: Hope Black holds her son, Arlo, as he hits a homemade coronavirus themed piñata during his 1st birthday party on Saturday, May 29, 2021, in the backyard of their home on Vashon Island.

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Megan Farmer
Visual Journalist & Editor

Megan Farmer is a visual journalist and visual editor who joined KUOW in 2017.
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