County’s COVID infection rates headed in positive direction

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Whatcom County’s COVID-19 infection rates have been moving closer to the governor’s target for further re-opening.

Whatcom County Health Department Director Erika Lautenbach says we are headed in a positive direction.

But she says any change in restrictions is a state decision and she’ll be talking with state health officials about our numbers later this week.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health reported two new Whatcom County coronavirus infections Monday, the most recent day with data available.

One hospitalization and one death have been reported in the past week.

Whatcom County’s daily test rate continues to drop, now at 363 tests given per day, down from a high of 486 in mid-July.

Whatcom County is now passing on two of five state risk assessment metrics, including percent of positive tests over the past week- 1.3%; and percent of hosptial beds in use for COVID-19 patients, which stands at zero as of this morning.