Clark County recorded 16 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths on Wednesday as average daily case counts fall to levels not seen since last summer.
The three fatalities were a woman age 80 or older with an underlying condition, a man in his 50s with an underlying condition, and another man in his 50s, unknown if he had an underlying condition, according to Clark County Public Health.
The three deaths bring the county’s total to 282 to date. Deaths are added to the county’s total 10-12 days after they occur. Four deaths have been recorded this week, according to Public Health data.
The new cases include 15 that were confirmed by molecular (PCR) testing, for a total of 24,306 to date, and one probable case identified by antigen testing, for a total of 1,519 to date, according to Public Health data.
The county has reported an average of about 24 new cases a day in the six days since Thursday. That’s down from an average of about 36 cases a day last week and is the lowest average daily case count over multiple days since Aug. 28.
The number of active cases fell below 200, to 197 on Wednesday, down from 222 on Tuesday, according to Public Health data.
Hospitalizations were little changed on Wednesday, with 27 people hospitalized with COVID-19, the same as on Tuesday, and five people hospitalized awaiting test results, up from two on Tuesday, according to Public Health data.
As of Saturday, 59.6 percent of Clark County residents age 16 and over had received one dose of vaccine, with 52.7 percent fully vaccinated. Counting all residents age 12 and older, 57.8 percent have received one dose and 50.7 percent were fully vaccinated, according to the Washington Department of Health.
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, meaning that 99.49 percent of all reported cases to that date were among people who were not fully vaccinated.
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, though it 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.
