Clark County’s recent COVID-19 case rate saw a slight drop for the second week in a row, as nearly every metric experienced a decrease from the prior week’s numbers.
Clark County Public Health’s Sept. 29 report included 74.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population over seven days, down from the 75.3 per 100,000 reported the prior week. It was the first time the rate dropped two weeks in a row since August.
The recent case rate statewide rose. As of Sept. 29, Washington had 94.3 cases per 100,000 population, up from 93.3 per 100,000 the prior week.
Recent case rates lag behind the most recent counts of cases. The health department’s most recent case rate was based on activity from Sept. 13 to Sept. 19.
The health department reported 354 new COVID-19 cases between Sept. 22 and Sept. 29, fewer than the 383 new COVID-19 cases between Sept. 15 and Sept. 22. In total, there have been 105,553 confirmed and probable cases in Clark County since the outbreak began, although that number does not include at home tests, which often go unreported.
Clark County Public Health’s Sept. 29 report included one additional confirmed COVID-19 death and three deaths suspected to be due to the disease, compared to the seven confirmed deaths and one suspected death reported the prior week.
The deaths bring Clark County’s total to 926, which includes 792 confirmed and 134 suspected to be due to the disease.
The number of COVID-19 patients occupying hospital beds in Clark County dropped. As of Sept. 29, 7.4% of beds had either patients with confirmed COVID-19 or patients awaiting test results, down from 8% reported on Sept. 22. The number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and patients awaiting test results was 6.9%, less than the 10.3% reported the prior week.
New COVID-19 hospital admissions decreased in the latest data. In its Sept. 29 report, the health department reported 4.4 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, down from 6 admissions per 100,000 population reported on Sept. 22.
Total hospital bed occupancy in the county also decreased as of Sept. 29. The health department reported 96.3% of hospital beds and 93.1% of ICU beds in the county were occupied, compared to 97.5% of all beds and 94.8% of the ICU beds on Sept. 22.
Clark County’s statewide share of COVID-19 cases and deaths stayed about the same. The Washington State Department of Health reported the county had about 5.8% of cases and 6.5% of deaths.
