OLYMPIA, Wash. — The state department of health has paused coronavirus reporting due to a backlog of tests.
In an email to KGMI, the department reported their disease reporting system was backlogged by over 53,000 test results as of Saturday.
The health department said their pause in statewide reporting would prevent them from falling further behind.
The Bellingham Herald reported Saturday that the number of persons hospitalized with COVID-19 at St. Joseph’s medical center had jumped to 15.
State health officials Saturday said the number of people statewide who were hospitalized to receive treatment for the coronavirus has reached a record high.
This after the department in a separate email Friday had urged state residents to limit their holiday celebrations to only members of their immediate households,
The department also is asking persons not to seek a test for the purpose of attending Thanksgiving celebrations, which Governor Inslee limited to to individuals’ own households in a November 15th proclamation.