At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, public officials in King County prepared for the possibility of widespread outbreaks in crowded facilities and overflowing hospitals. Of particular interest to officials were people who may contract the coronavirus and have nowhere to quarantine or recover — particularly those struggling with homelessness.
Nevertheless, with at least 5,000 people living outside in King County, advocates have pushed local officials and private businesses to work harder to bring people indoors by using vacant space or empty hotels. A group of activists recently staged what they called the “Hyatt Hoax,” issuing a fake press release announcing that Hyatt was providing rooms to homeless individuals. Several people then protested in the hotel’s lobby.
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