Clark County reported a drop in its COVID-19 activity rate and hospitalizations this week, bringing the omicron surge another step closer to its end just as state masking mandates are about to wind down.
The COVID-19 activity rate, which measures new cases per 100,000 population over 14 days, decreased from 267.4 per 100,000 last week to 135.4 as of Thursday.
This week is the first time the disease activity rate has dipped below 200 per 100,000 residents since the week of Aug. 12, according to Public Health. In late September, at the peak of the delta wave, the disease activity rate reached 549.3 per 100,000 population. In late January, at the peak of the omicron wave, the disease activity rate hit a staggering 2,549.1.
The low disease activity rate comes as Washington is set to lift its mask mandate at 11:59 p.m. Friday. Masks will still be required in certain settings including on public transit and in health care, corrections and long-term care facilities.
Hospitalizations also decreased this week, though hospital occupancy remains relatively high.
New hospitalizations this week fell from 9.6 per 100,000 residents over seven days to 6.6 per 100,000 over seven days, according to Public Health.
As of Tuesday, 97.1 percent of Clark County’s hospital beds and 94 percent of its ICU beds were occupied. Hospitals reported that 46 beds — accounting for 8.8 percent of hospital beds and 4 percent of ICU beds — were occupied by people with or suspected of having COVID-19.
Fourteen new deaths were reported in Clark County this week. The deaths include one man and one woman in their 50s, three men and two women in their 60s, two men and one woman in their 70s and three men and one woman age 80 or older.
The new deaths push the total number of people who have died from COVID-19 in Clark County to 768. Deaths are added to the county’s total typically 10 to 12 days after they occur.
Public Health reported a total of 1,204 new cases this week, with 1,143 confirmed by molecular testing, for 71,425 to date, and 61 using antigen testing, for 14,261.
Combined, the new cases work out to an average of about 172 new cases per day, up from about 124 new cases per day last week. The actual number of new cases is likely higher due to unreported at-home tests, according to Clark County Public Health officials.
The Washington State Department of Health reported that as of March 4, 64.6 percent of Clark County residents age 5 or older were fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
