Clark County sees spike with 1,493 new COVID cases

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The amount of weekly COVID-19 cases reported in Clark County increased more than 80% in the latest health department report. 

Between Dec. 23 and Dec. 30, Clark County Health reported 1,493 additional COVID-19 cases, up from 811 reported between Dec. 16 and Dec. 23. The numbers included 1,195 confirmed cases and 298 probable cases based on antigen tests. The county has had a total of 43,684 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 5,315 probable cases since the outbreak began. 

There were 1,601 active cases as of Dec. 30, which are ones still in the isolation period. Active cases were almost double what they were a week ago.

The health department reported 437.3 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population over 14 days, accounting for a sharp increase from 263.2 the week prior. The rate has not been that high since October.

Clark County Public Health’s Dec. 30 report included a similar number of COVID-19 deaths as last week, with eight additional confirmed deaths and one death suspected to be because of the disease. 



The confirmed deaths included two men in their 70s, two men in their 60s, a woman older than 80, two women in their 70s and a woman in her 60s. The death suspected to be due to COVID-19 was a man in his 70s. The additional deaths put Clark County’s total at 597, which includes 548 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 49 suspected.

The number of COVID-19 patients occupying hospital beds in Clark County saw a slight increase as of the health department’s update. As of Dec. 30, 10.1% of beds had either patients with confirmed COVID-19 or ones awaiting test results, up from 9.7% last week. COVID-19 patients occupied 15.4% of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in the county, down from 17.4% the week prior.

New COVID-19 hospital admissions saw an increase as Clark County Public Health reported 8.6 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, up from 7.2 per 100,000 the week prior. 

Total hospital bed occupancy decreased in Clark County as of Dec. 30 though ICU occupancy increased. The health department reported 85.3% of hospital beds and 81.5% of ICU beds were occupied in the county, compared to 92.5% and 91.3%, respectively on Dec. 23.

Clark County’s share of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths statewide saw some fluctuation as of Dec. 30. The Washington State Department of Health reported the county had 5.9% of confirmed cases and 6.1% of deaths in the state, compared to 6% for both reported on Dec. 23.