Clark County’s COVID-19 cases surged by nearly 58 percent this week, with 832 total cases and six deaths over seven days, according to Clark County Public Health.
It took from March 7 until June 30 for Clark County to reach the number of COVID-19 cases that were reported this week. Weekly case totals had been as low as 149 on Aug. 28 before ratcheting upward to 250 cases by the week ending Oct. 2; 391 in the week ending Oct. 30; and 527 for the week ending Nov. 6.
The explosion of new cases is occurring across age groups and demographics, with those 20 to 49 years old consistently having the highest numbers of new confirmed cases, according to Public Health data, with small private gatherings remaining a leading source of COVID-19 exposure in Clark County.
The trend prompted a warning from Public Health that holiday gatherings could drive local case numbers even higher.
“The safest way to celebrate the holidays this year is at home with the people you live with,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County health officer and Public Health director said in a statement Friday. “Attending indoor gatherings with people from outside of your household puts you and your loved ones at higher risk of getting sick with COVID-19.”
Public Health reported 113 new COVID-19 cases Friday and two deaths, a man and woman age 80 or older with underlying health conditions. Their deaths push the toll to 79 in Clark County.
The new cases reported Friday push the county’s total case count to 6,160, according to Public Health data. The 832 cases this week work out to an average of about 119 cases per day.
The number of active cases, people still in their isolation period, rose from 428 on Thursday to 451 on Friday.
There were 46 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Clark County on Friday and six people hospitalized awaiting test results.
Public Health reported five new COVID-19 exposure incidents at public and private schools in Clark County, bringing the total school exposures to 63 to date.
The new school exposures for the seven days ending Nov. 12 were:
Evergreen Public Schools:
- Marrion Elementary School, one staff member on Nov. 6, was not exposed at school.
Vancouver Public Schools:
- VPS District Building, one staff member on Nov. 5, not exposed at school.
Private schools:
- Meadow Glade Adventist Elementary School, two students on Nov. 6, not exposed at school.
Our Lady of Lourdes, one student on Nov. 4, not exposed at school.
