Clark County recorded 121 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases Friday as surging case numbers prompted health officials to urge residents to get vaccinated and take steps to slow the spread of the disease.
The new cases include 111 confirmed by molecular (PCR) testing, the highest one-day total since late January, putting the county’s total confirmed cases at 20,752, according to Public Health data. The county reported 10 new probable cases through antigen testing.
Combined, the county recorded 609 confirmed and probable cases in the past seven days, or an average of 87 new cases a day. That is up from a combined average of about 71 cases a day last week, according to Public Health data. By comparison, the combined average from March 15-21 was about 43 new cases a day.
No new deaths were reported Friday, leaving the county’s total at 252 Three deaths were reported this week, though deaths are added to the county’s total 10 to 12 days after they occur.
The number of active COVID-19 cases, which counts confirmed and probable cases in their isolation period, rose to 623 on Friday, up from 563 on Thursday, according to Public Health.
Hospitalizations continued to rise, with 28 people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Friday, up from 25 on Thursday, and four people hospitalized awaiting test results, the same as the day before, according to Public Health data.
Demographic data showed that cases are increasing across all age groups, with the biggest increase occurring in residents ages 20 to 49, according to Public Health. The smallest increase is among people 65 and older, the age group that has the county’s highest COVID-19 immunization rate.
“As more people get vaccinated against COVID-19, the virus will have fewer people to infect and less opportunity to spread in our community,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County health officer and Public Health director. “We must continue to take other steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 – wear face coverings, maintain physical distancing and avoid large gatherings – until we can get more people vaccinated.”
The increasing case numbers come with the introduction of the B.1.1.7 variant, which spreads more easily and quickly than other variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The variant has been detected in Clark County, and the state Department of Health estimates that about 50 to 60 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the state are due to that variant.
“COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19,” Public Health said. “Early data also suggests the vaccines are effective against the B.1.1.7 variant.”
Anyone age 16 or older is now eligible for vaccination. Clark County has been allocated 10,320 first doses and 8,120 second doses to administer through Sunday, not counting vaccine doses allocated directly to pharmacies by the federal government.
To schedule an appointment at a number of locations throughout Clark County, including mass vaccination sites, visit the Washington Department of Health Vaccine Locator.
Those who do not have internet access or need help scheduling an appointment can call Public Health from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 888-225-4625. Call center representatives can assist with scheduling. Language assistance is available.
