Clark County’s recent COVID-19 case rate increased for a third week as most of the metrics tracking the disease were on the rise.
Clark County Public Health’s April 28 report showed 70.3 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population over seven days, nearly double the 35.7 per 100,000 reported the prior week. The case rate has been rising since April 14 following a precipitous drop from the peak of 1,715.5 per 100,000 in seven days reported in January.
Recent case rates lag behind the most recent counts of cases. The health department’s most recent case rate was based on activity from April 12 to April 18.
The health department reported 599 new cases between April 21 and April 28, more than the 339 reported between April 14 and April 21.
The update on April 28 included 427 confirmed cases and 172 suspected cases based on antigen testing. In total, there have been 74,698 confirmed and 14,862 probable cases in Clark County since the outbreak began.
Following a week with no reported COVID-19 deaths, Clark County Public Health’s April 28 report included a death suspected to be due to the disease of a man in his 60s.
The death puts Clark County’s total at 796, including 704 confirmed and 92 suspected to be due to COVID-19.
The number of COVID-19 patients occupying hospital beds in Clark County increased. As of April 28, 5.5% of beds had either patients with confirmed COVID-19 or patients awaiting test results, higher than the 4.9% reported the week prior. The health department reported 7% of intensive care unit (ICU) beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients. The prior week, the health department stated there were no ICU beds occupied by COVID-19 patients on April 21.
New COVID-19 hospital admissions saw an increase in the latest data. In its April 28 report, the health department reported 3.4 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, up from 1.2 admissions per 100,000 population reported April 21.
Total hospital bed occupancy in the county increased slightly as well. The health department reported 98.5% of hospital beds and 94.7% of ICU beds were occupied in the county, compared to 98.4% of all beds and 94.2% of ICU beds on April 21.
Clark County’s statewide share of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths stayed about the same as of April 28 compared to the prior week. The Washington State Department of Health reported the county had about 6% of cases and 6.3% of deaths.
