Clark County reported 64 new COVID-19 cases and one death Friday, according to Clark County Public Health.
The fatality was a man in his 60s with an underlying condition, according to Public Health, putting the total number of deaths at 273. Deaths are added to the county’s total 10 to 12 days after they occur. Two deaths were recorded this week, down from seven the week before.
The cases include 58 confirmed by molecular (PCR) testing, putting that total at 23,702, and six probable cases diagnosed with antigen testing, for a total of 1,418.
Weekly totals and average daily case counts were not available this week due to a change in accounting methods that added in cases that had not been tallied previously. The county had been experiencing an average of about 67 cases a day last week before the accounting change.
The number of active cases held steady at 487 on Friday, counting both confirmed and probable cases still in their isolation period, according to Public Health data.
Hospitalizations were mostly steady, with 43 people hospitalized in Clark County with COVID-19, up one from Thursday, and two people hospitalized awaiting test results, down from three Thursday, according to Public Health data. ICU occupancy by all patients, a statistic that reflects health system capacity, fell to 83.3 percent Friday, down from 95.3 percent Thursday, while the percent of licensed hospital beds occupied by people with or suspected of having COVID-19 held steady at 7.8 percent.
Anyone age 16 or older is eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and anyone age 12 or older is eligible to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine, though a parent or legal guardian must accompany minors ages 12 to 15. Underage teens are advised to check with vaccination sites about what sort of parental consent might be needed.
Vaccinations are available without an appointment in Clark County, including at the Tower Mall vaccination site, 5403 E. Mill Plain Blvd. in Vancouver. The Tower Mall site will close at the end of June. More information about opportunities for vaccination is available on Clark County Public Health’s COVID-19 vaccine information website. Appointments at a number of locations throughout Clark County can be scheduled through 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. Language assistance is available.
