Clark County’s recent COVID-19 case rate saw its first increase in almost two months.
Clark County Public Health’s April 14 report showed 26 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population over seven days, a slight increase from the 24.4 reported the week prior. The case rate rose for the first time since Jan. 27, though it was still close to the lowest rate of 23.8 per 100,000 population recorded in July.
Recent case rates lag behind the most recent counts of cases. The health department’s most recent case rate was based on activity from March 29 to April 4.
The health department reported 205 new cases between April 7 and April 14, fewer than the 383 reported between March 31 and April 7.
The update on April 14 included 176 confirmed cases and 29 suspected cases based on antigen testing. In total, there have been 73,992 confirmed and 14,630 probable cases in Clark County since the outbreak began.
Clark County Public Health’s April 14 report did not include any confirmed COVID-19 deaths, whereas it reported three on April 7. The health department did report a death suspected to be due to the disease in a woman older than 80.
The deaths put Clark County’s total at 795, including 704 confirmed and 91 suspected to be due to COVID-19.
The number of COVID-19 patients occupying hospital beds in Clark County stayed about the same. As of April 14, 5.2% of beds had either patients with confirmed COVID-19 or patients awaiting test results, the same as reported the week prior. COVID-19 patients made up 4.3% of patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds in the county, down from 4.7% reported April 7.
New COVID-19 hospital admissions stayed at the same level as reported a week prior. In its April 14 report, the health department reported 1.4 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days.
Total hospital bed occupancy in the county slightly dropped while ICU occupancy saw a slight increase. The health department reported 96.4% of hospital beds and 95.7% of ICU beds were occupied in the county, compared to 97.4% of all beds and 95.3% of ICU beds on April 7.
Clark County’s statewide share of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths stayed about the same as of April 14 compared to the prior week. The Washington State Department of Health reported the county had about 6% of cases and 6.3% of deaths.
