Recent COVID-19 activity in Clark County continues to increase based on the latest health department data.
Clark County Public Health’s Dec. 8 report included 87.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population over seven days, up from the 74.5 per 100,000 reported on Dec. 1. The latest data marks six weeks of increases and is the highest it has been since Sept. 1.
The statewide case rate also rose, though it remains below Clark County’s rate. As of Dec. 8, Washington had 75.6 cases per 100,000 population, up from 68 per 100,000 a week prior.
Recent case rates lag behind the most recent counts of cases. The health department’s most recent case rate was based on activity from Nov. 22 to Nov. 28.
The health department reported 461 new COVID-19 cases between Dec. 1 and Dec. 8. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, Clark County Public Health did not have a weekly update on Nov. 24, but reported 801 additional cases between its Nov. 17 and Dec. 1 updates. Based on the 400-case weekly average during that time frame, the latest weekly count is greater.
In total, there have been 108,548 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 Dec. 8 report included nine additional confirmed COVID-19 deaths and no deaths suspected to be due to the disease since its Dec. 1 update. The deaths bring Clark County’s total to 974, which includes 828 confirmed and 146 suspected deaths.
The number of COVID-19 patients occupying hospital beds in Clark County increased. As of Dec. 8, 13.1% of beds had either patients with confirmed COVID-19 or patients awaiting test results, up from 10% reported on Dec. 1. The number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and patients awaiting test results landed at 8.5%, less than the 16.9% the prior week.
New COVID-19 hospital admissions increased in the latest data. In its Dec. 8 report, the health department reported 9.4 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, up from 8.8 admissions per 100,000 population reported on Dec. 1.
Clark County’s statewide share of COVID-19 cases saw a slight decrease while the share of deaths rose slightly. The Washington State Department of Health reported the county had about 5.8% of cases and 6.6% of deaths.
