Clark County reported 36 new COVID-19 cases on Friday as data showed a continued downward trend in infections and increase in vaccinations.
Three deaths were added to the county’s total on Friday: one woman in her 60s and two women in their 70s, all with underlying conditions, according to Clark County Public Health. Deaths are recorded by the county 10-12 days after they occur. Seven deaths were recorded since June 4, up from two the previous week.
The new cases include 29 that were confirmed using molecular (PCR) testing, for 24,001 to date, and seven probable cases diagnosed using antigen testing, for 1,464 to date, according to Public Health data.
The county recorded 345 confirmed and probable cases in the seven days since June 4, an average of about 49 new cases a day. That’s down from a fourth-wave peak of about 95 cases a day in the seven days ending May 7 and about 68 cases a day in the week ending May 28. Data from last week was skewed by changes in data collection and the discovery of previously unrecorded cases and couldn’t be used for comparisons.
Active cases, which tracks confirmed and probable cases still in their isolation period, fell to 417 on Friday, down from 432 on Thursday. Hospitalization data was revised upward on Thursday after Public Health reported a data gathering error, to 38 people hospitalized with COVID-19 and no patients hospitalized awaiting test results, and those numbers remained unchanged on Friday.
Daily case counts have been falling as the percentage of Clark County residents receiving vaccine rises. Data as of June 7 shows 229,516 people age 16 or older — or 57.6 percent of that group — had received their first vaccination, and 196,913 — 49.56 percent — were fully vaccinated, according to the Washington Department of Health.
Expanding to the all county residents regardless of age, the Department of Health reported 45.98 percent had at least one dose and 39.45 percent were fully vaccinated.
Statewide, 63.88 percent of Washingtonians age 16 or older had received one dose, and 56.04 percent are fully vaccinated, the Department of Health reported. Among all age groups, 51.27 percent had received one dose, while 44.98 percent were fully vaccinated.
Vaccination information
Data for Clark County and the state show that COVID-19 vaccines are extremely effective at preventing COVID-19 infections as well as hospitalizations and deaths. According to county data, there were only 124 cases of COVID-19 in vaccinated people reported as of May 25, the same day the county reported a total of 24,327 COVID-19 cases to that date.
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 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. Call center representatives can assist with scheduling. Language assistance is available.
