For first time in a month, Whatcom reports no new coronavirus cases or deaths Friday
For the first time in 32 days, the Whatcom County Health Department reported both no new positive tests for COVID-19 and no new deaths related to the new coronavirus on Friday, April 17.
The county remained at 271 residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 25 deaths of residents who tested positive for the respiratory illness.
The last time the county saw no increase in the number of cases was on March 19 — the day the county reported its first death related to coronavirus. The last time no new cases or deaths were reported was March 16, when there were only three positive tests and no deaths.
Friday’s report also continued a recent slowing trend of new cases, as the county has reported only 10 new positive tests since Saturday, April 11, when 11 new positives were reported.
The county also reported 87 more negative test results on Friday, increasing the total number to 1,286.
More than 2.2 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 150,900 deaths as of Friday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has more than 683,000 confirmed cases — the most reported cases of any nation — with at least 34,575 deaths.
Overall, the Washington State Department of Health reported 11,152 cases and 583 deaths as of Thursday evening.
Lynden Manor update
Lynden Manor reported Thursday, April 16, in a news release posted to its website that all but four residents who previously tested positive for COVID-19 have been cleared from coronavirus precautions.
The final four residents still in coronavirus precautions remain asymptomatic and “report feeling fine,” the release said. Those residents are expected to be released from additional precautions by the Whatcom County Health Department on Saturday, April 18, if no symptoms emerge.
“We would like to thank you all for the support, trust and love you have shown the residents and the staff. Thank you!” the release said.
Two Lynden Manor residents who tested positive for COVID-19 died, according to previous release from the assisted living residence on March 31 and April 8. A total of 13 positive tests — 12 residents and one staff member — were reported by the facility.
Also on Thursday, the Whatcom County Health Department announced two residents had tested positive, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the county to 271. Of those, 25 people have died.
Lummi reports new positive
The Lummi Public Health Department announced in a news release posted Thursday to Facebook that a 21st Lummi community member has tested positive for COVID-19.
No other information about the community member was included in the release.
The Lummi health department said it is working to identify contacts with the person, instruct them to self-quarantine and is preparing to offer testing to anyone who may have been exposed or is showing symptoms. The Lummi health department also is working with the Whatcom County Health Department to track any other possible affected individuals.
The Lummi Nation Indian Business Council ordered community members to shelter in place on March 22 in an effort to reduce the coronavirus spread through the community.
The new case reported Thursday was just the second positive COVID-19 test the Lummi Nation has seen since April 4.
This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 8:52 AM.
