BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Whatcom County now has the highest rate of COVID-19 infections of any area in the state.
The increases are greatest in northern parts of the county.
The Health Department reports cases have skyrocketed in the Lynden and Nooksack Valley areas, with the case rate doubling in Lynden and tripling in Nooksack Valley over the previous week.
The countywide count ending Tuesday, the most recent data available, shows a record 558 first-time positives, an increase of 50% over the previous week.
Also as of Tuesday, ICU availability was up to 29% in the North Region and 13% of all adult acute care beds were open across Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, and Island counties.
Recent data says 80% of known transmission sources following the Christmas holiday were from social events and within households
Health Department officials advise against social gatherings of any size with non-household members at this time.
Whatcom County Health Department Director Erika Lautenbach backs up calls to limit social gathering with some sobering statistics.
She says a gathering of 10 presents a 12% chance of contracting the virus, and the odds go up with the number of people.
Infection rate increases are being seen in all age groups and especially kids.
She says no single super-spreader event has been identified and the more contagious UK-variant of the virus hasn’t been documented in Whatcom County.
Meanwhile, the lead vaccination program planner for the Whatcom County Health Department says they’re getting closer to offering vaccines to the general public.
Amy Hockenberry told a news conference Wednesday that planning is in the very early stages but they should have more information in coming weeks.