Clark County recorded 87 new COVID-19 cases and one new death Thursday as health officials stress the opportunity for appointment-free vaccinations at Vancouver’s Tower Mall site.
The death was a man age 80 or older with underlying conditions, according to Clark County Public Health. His death puts the county’s total at 258 deaths from COVID-19. Six deaths have been recorded since Friday, up from three the previous week and four the week ending April 16.
Deaths are added to the county’s total 10 to 12 days after they occur, according to Public Health.
The new cases include 73 confirmed with molecular (PCR) testing, pushing the county’s total to 21,254, and 14 probable cases diagnosed with antigen testing, bringing that total to 971. Combined, the new cases reported since Friday work out to an average of 93.5 new cases a day, up from an average of 87 new cases a day last week and 70.85 new cases a day the week before, according to Public Health data.
The number of active cases, which tracks both confirmed and probable cases still in their isolation period, climbed to 667 on Thursday, up from 656 on Wednesday, according to Public Health data.
Hospitalizations dipped slightly on Thursday, with 35 people hospitalized with COVID-19, down from 37 on Wednesday, and one person hospitalized awaiting test results, down from two on Wednesday, according to Public Health data.
Public Health will close its community testing site at Tower Mall at the end of the day Friday, in a move that reflects expanded testing options in the community and the desire to increase the site’s use for COVID-19 vaccinations.
The site, 5403 E. Mill Plain Blvd., will continue to offer free drive-thru or walk-up COVID-19 vaccinations with no appointment required, though preference is given to those with appointments. Wait times have been very short, with most people being vaccinated within 10 to 15 minutes of arrival, according to Public Health. The site is served by C-Tran Route 37.
As of Monday, 178,193 Clark County residents had received their first vaccination, about 35 percent of the population, according to the Washington State Department of Health. The department reported that 124,299 Clark County residents, or 24.9 percent of the population, had been fully vaccinated.
Anyone age 16 or older is eligible to be vaccinated, though underage teens are advised to check with vaccination sites about what parental consent might be needed prior to vaccination.
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.
