Clark County’s recent COVID-19 case rate is back in the double digits as the stat dropped for a seventh-straight week.
Clark County Public Health’s March 17 report showed 77.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population over 14 days, down about half from the 135.4 reported the week prior. The rate was the lowest reported since July 29, and was more than 40% less than the rate reported on March 10.
The health department reported 1,191 new cases between March 10 and March 17, slightly less than the 1,204 reported between March 3 and March 10. The update on March 17 included 1,181 confirmed cases and 10 suspected cases based on antigen testing. In total, there have been 72,606 confirmed and 14,271 probable cases in Clark County since the outbreak began.
Clark County Public Health’s March 17 report tallied eight more confirmed COVID-19 deaths, one less than the nine reported on March 10. The health department also reported two deaths suspected to be due to the disease, which was three fewer than the deaths reported last week.
The confirmed deaths included five men older than 80, a man in his 70s and two men in their 60s. The suspected deaths were a woman older than 80 and a woman in her 50s.
The deaths put Clark County’s total at 778, including 693 confirmed and 85 suspected to be due to COVID-19.
The number of COVID-19 patients occupying hospital beds in Clark County saw a decrease while those in intensive care unit (ICU) beds rose. As of March 17, 6.7% of beds had either patients with confirmed COVID-19 or patients awaiting test results, down from 8.8% last week. COVID-19 patients occupied 6.4% of ICU beds in the county, higher than the 4% reported the week prior.
New COVID-19 hospital admissions decreased slightly as Clark County Public Health reported 6.4 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, down from 6.6 per 100,000 the week prior.
Total hospital bed occupancy in the county declined as of March 17. The health department reported 96.3% of hospital beds and 93.6% of ICU beds were occupied in the county, compared to 97.1% and 94%, respectively on March 10.
Clark County’s statewide share of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths stayed about the same as of March 17 compared to the prior week. The Washington State Department of Health reported the county had about 6% of cases and 6.3% of deaths.
