OLYMPIA, Wash. — The state health department says last week was a record-breaker in terms of new coronavirus infections statewide, calling King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties the worst hot spots.
The department also pointed to high growth in the 25-59 age group statewide.
As of this morning, the state’s risk assessment dashboard shows 3.5% of all hospital beds in use for COVID-19 patients; that number in Whatcom County is 2 percent.
Nearly 39% of all state hospital beds are open, compared with 5.5% in Whatcom County.
At the same time, Whatcom County’s positivity rate has actually dropped to 1.1%.
And Western Washington University reported no positives on 821 tests given last week.
Meanwhile, flu activity across the state remains low.
The health department reports no flu deaths statewide 4 weeks into the reporting season.
Each of the past five reporting years had seen one or more deaths at this point.
The percent of visits to healthcare providers for flu-like illness is at its lowest season-to-date in the most recent four year’s reporting.
Nationwide, only one state is reporting moderate flu activity; with the rest showing low or minimal activity.
In years where flu activity has been most elevated, the impacts are usually seen starting in December.