COVID-19 activity in Clark County experienced an increase in the latest data released following Thanksgiving.
Clark County Public Health’s Dec. 1 report included 74.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population over seven days, up from the 47.9 per 100,000 reported Nov. 17. The rate has increased from a recent low of 43.1 per 100,000 reported five weeks prior.
After maintaining a recent case rate below the statewide rate for months, the latest data shows it higher than Washington as a whole. As of Dec. 1, Washington had 68 cases per 100,000 population, up from 50.5 per 100,000 two weeks 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. 15 to Nov. 21.
The department did not update on its usual weekly schedule due to Thanksgiving, so the latest data includes two weeks of information.
The health department reported 801 new COVID-19 cases between Nov. 17 and Dec. 1. The weekly average of about 400 cases exceeded the 216 new COVID-19 cases between Nov. 10 and Nov. 17.
In total, there have been 108,087 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. 1 report included two additional confirmed COVID-19 deaths and two deaths suspected to be due to the disease since its Nov. 17 update. The department reported no additional deaths since Nov. 24.
The deaths bring Clark County’s total to 965, which includes 819 confirmed and 146 suspected deaths.
The number of COVID-19 patients occupying hospital beds in Clark County increased. As of Dec. 1, 10% of beds had either patients with confirmed COVID-19 or patients awaiting test results, up from 7.5% reported on Nov. 17. The number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and patients awaiting test results landed at 16.9%, more than the 10.2% the prior week.
New COVID-19 hospital admissions increased in the latest data. In its Dec. 1 report, the health department reported 8.8 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, up from 6.8 admissions per 100,000 population reported on Nov. 17.
Clark County’s statewide share of COVID-19 cases saw a slight increase while the share of deaths stayed about the same. The Washington State Department of Health reported the county had about 5.9% of cases and 6.5% of deaths.
