Cheers . . . and jeers: To Clark County vaccination rates. Clark County ranks 11th among Washington’s 39 counties in COVID-19 vaccinations. As of last week, 63 percent of local residents age 12 or older had received at least one dose, and 56.8 percent were fully vaccinated. But while Clark County is above the median in terms of vaccinations, it is lagging behind the state average. Nearly 69 percent of eligible Washingtonians had received at least one dose.
In a statement, Clark County Public Health said: “Most COVID-19 cases are among those who are not vaccinated – statewide data shows nearly 96 percent of cases through July 31 were not fully vaccinated. A small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated may still get COVID-19, but infections tend to be mild.” If you have not been vaccinated and have concerns about vaccines, consult your doctor and seek out reliable information.
Jeers: To Washington coronavirus rates. Fueled by the delta variant of COVID-19, infection rates continue to climb and place stress on the health care system. The Seattle Times reported Wednesday: “The state’s hospitals are at near maximum capacity, forcing administrators to shuffle patients to other facilities, cancel surgeries and fill hallways with rented beds.”
One reason for that is a shortage of care workers at other facilities. Hospital officials have trouble finding places — such as nursing homes — for patients who otherwise would be discharged. To prevent hospitals from being overrun, it is essential for Washington residents to get the virus under control.
Cheers: To growth. The Vancouver City Council has been busy managing our growing city. Council members recently approved a mixed-use development at a former Hewlett-Packard site in east Vancouver and have listened to concerns about traffic at the Riverview Gateway development along 192nd Avenue, near Highway 14.
While The Waterfront Vancouver development near downtown has received the bulk of the attention in recent years, growth is occurring throughout the city. Several residential and commercial hubs have popped up in east Vancouver, turning that part of the city into a desirable destination in its own right, and a proposed development in the Heights District promises to revitalize a long-neglected part of the city. All of that is keeping councilors busy — one sign of a vibrant city.
Jeers: To Asian giant hornets. Entomologists have confirmed the first 2021 sighting of a “murder hornet” in Washington. “This hornet is exhibiting the same behavior we saw last year — attacking paper wasp nests,” the state Department of Agriculture said. “If you have paper wasp nests on your property and live in the area, keep an eye on them and report any Asian giant hornets you see.”
The hornet was spotted near Blaine, about 2 miles from where a nest was eradicated last year. The invasive hornets are a threat to the bee population that plays an important role in Washington’s tree-fruit industry.
Cheers: To high school sports. Practice started Wednesday for hundreds of football players in the county, officially kicking off what hopefully will be a “normal” high school sports season. The coronavirus pandemic limited traditional fall sports to spring competition last school year.
Ideally, students in all sports and all school activities will be able to stick to a typical calendar this year, but that will depend on keeping COVID infections at a manageable level. Success would provide some sense of normalcy following a difficult 18 months.
