Clark County reported 124 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths Wednesday as case data shows signs of declining disease activity.
The 124 cases include 97 confirmed by molecular (PCR) testing, raising the county’s total to 23,134 to date, and 27 probable cases diagnosed by antigen testing, pushing that total to 1,317, according to the latest data from Clark County Public Health.
Public Health said the new data brings the county’s case totals up to date after delays caused by maintenance to the state’s data collection system over the weekend. The up-to-date data shows Clark County has been averaging about 65 new cases a day since Friday, a significant decrease from the an average of about 84 cases a day last week and 80 the week before.
Public Health data on COVID-19 testing appears to show the beginning of the recent downturn in cases, with 6.7 percent of tests coming back positive in the May 2-8 period — 504 positive tests out of 7,528 administered. That’s down from a positivity rate of 7.87 percent in the April 25-May 1 period, which was the peak as cases surged this spring.
With no new deaths reported Wednesday, the county’s total stands at 270 deaths from COVID-19. Deaths are reported by the county 10 to 12 days after they occur. Six deaths have been reported so far this week.
The number of active cases, counting confirmed and probable cases still in their isolation period, rose to 534 on Wednesday, up from 488 on Tuesday, according to Public Health data. Hospitalizations held steady Wednesday, with 44 people hospitalized with COVID-19, up from 43 on Tuesday, and three people hospitalized awaiting test results, the same as Tuesday.
In a measure of medical system readiness, 93.9 percent of the county’s licensed ICU beds were occupied Wednesday, the same as Tuesday, according to Public Health, which reported that 8.1 percent of all licensed beds in Clark County were occupied by people with or suspected of having COVID-19, up from 7.9 percent Tuesday.
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 at a number of sites in Clark County, including the Tower Mall vaccination site, 5403 E. Mill Plain Blvd. in Vancouver. A mass vaccination site near Ridgefield at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds is scheduled to close Friday.
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.
