A group of 24 patients hospitalized for hypoxemic respiratory failure with confirmed COVID-19 were identified within this study. Common symptoms included cough and shortness of breath, along with fever (50% upon admission) and diabetes mellitus (58% upon admission). 18 patients required mechanical ventilation, and 17 patients required vasopressors for hypotension. 12 patients (50%) died within 18 days in the ICU (which included 4 patients with DNR orders upon admission). Within the first 3 weeks of the Seattle COVID-19 outbreak, the primary ICU admissions were due to hypoxemic respiratory failure and/or hypotension, requiring mechanical ventilation and vasopressor treatment, respectively. The patients within this study had a mean age of 64±18 years and developed symptoms within 7±4 days of admission. 63% of the patients were male.