Clark County reported 22 new COVID-19 deaths on Thursday as the number of new cases since Oct. 14 remained little changed from previous weeks, according to the latest data from Clark County Public Health.
The fatalities were three men in their 40s, one man in his 50s, three men and one woman in their 60s, five men and one woman in their 70s and three men and five women age 80 or older, according to Public Health data. Deaths are added to the county’s total 10-12 days after they occur.
The new deaths bring the county’s total deaths from COVID-19 to 473 to date. The county reported 20 deaths last week and has been averaging about 21 deaths per week for the past six weeks.
The continuing elevated death rate comes as Public Health reported 1,004 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in seven days, for an average of about 143 new cases a day. That rate, which is down from an average of about 145 cases a day last week, is far lower than the average of 229 cases per day reported on Sept. 2 but far above the average of about 13 new cases a day reported on July 1.
The new cases include 869 that were confirmed with molecular PCR testing, for a total of 36,573 to date, and 135 probable cases diagnosed with antigen testing, for 3,888 to date. Combined, the county has recorded 40,461 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.
The number of active cases still in their isolation period rose by 52 to 1,143, according to Public Health data.
While the rate of new infections remains high but a two-week rolling average showed a slight decline, to 379 new cases per 100,000 population over 14 days. The rate had been 50.1 as of July 22 before jumping to a peak of 549.3 as the highly contagious delta variant spread through the area.
The rate of new hospital admissions fell to 10.2 per 100,000 population over seven days, down from 13.4 last week, according to Public Health data.
Clark County hospitals reported that 93.1 percent of their hospital beds and 73 percent of their ICU beds were occupied as of Tuesday. They reported that 14.7 percent of hospital beds and 30.2 percent of their ICU beds were occupied by people with suspected of having COVID-19.
Vaccination rates continue to increase in Clark County, with 69.7 percent of those age 12 or older having at least one dose and 63.8 percent fully vaccinated as of Monday, according to the Washington Department of Health.
