Clark County adds 100 new COVID-19 casesFree

More than 100 additional Clark County residents were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 over the long holiday weekend, according to information released Monday afternoon by Clark County Public Health.

The rate of new cases per 100,000 population is also climbing locally, mirroring patterns seen across the United States as social distancing and other precautions increasingly give way to people’s desires to socialize and spend money:

• As of Monday, 1,011 local cases of the novel coronavirus had been confirmed, up 110 cases since the last report on Thursday. The local death toll remained steady at 29.

• More than 16,425 tests have been administered as of Saturday, up from 15,792.

• The rate of infection per 100,000 population was 25.2 on Saturday, compared with 21.1 on Thursday.

• Eighteen county residents are currently hospitalized for treatment of the virus and its effects.

Many of Clark County’s patients are younger people. As of Monday’s report, 105 children or teens had been sickened, and 167 people in their 20s, compared with only 102 in theirs 70s and 80s.

The largest cohort of cases, 192, was among people ages 30-39.

Geographically, the most number of cases have occurred in the southern, most populous part of Clark County. The 98665 ZIP Code – Hazel Dell – had the highest rate of infection, at 400 cases per 100,000 residents, followed by 98661, west Vancouver, and 98662, Orchards.

Clark County remains in Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Start Safe, Stay Healthy reopening plan. Officials said late last week the county is expected to stay in Phase 2 for at least two more weeks, and Inslee has said no county will advance to Phase 4 until the rate of new infections drops.