Memorial Day holiday postpones new Whatcom County coronavirus statistics Monday
The Whatcom County Health Department did not update COVID-19 information Monday, May 25, noting on its website that its offices were closed in observance of Memorial Day.
On Sunday, May 24, the county health department reported 369 confirmed cases and 32 related deaths. It reported 7,916 negative test results as of Sunday. That number jumped by 3,204 as the state corrected data.
On Monday, St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham reported that it is treating one COVID-19 patient but has no other patients suspected of having the new coronavirus.
The Washington State Department of Health reported Monday that Whatcom County has had 51 coronavirus-related hospitalizations during the pandemic. However, St. Joseph hospital reported to The Bellingham Herald on Thursday, May 22, it has had 58 hospitalizations to date.
More than 5.4 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 345,886 deaths as of Monday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has more than 1.6 million confirmed cases — the most reported cases of any nation — with at least 97,850 deaths.
Overall, the Washington State Department of Health reported 19,828 cases, 1,061 deaths and 3,287 coronavirus-related hospitalizations as of Sunday evening. Approximately 5.4% of all confirmed cases in the death have resulted in death, while 6.1% of the 326,593 of the tests have come back positive for COVID-19.
Phased re-opening
Whatcom remains one of 14 Washington state counties that remain in Phase 1 of the state’s phased approach to re-opening businesses and modifying physical distancing measures.
Gov. Jay Inslee said Friday, May 22, that the state is making good progress as it continues to open, but that not all counties will reopen June 1.
Under Phase 1, high-risk populations are encouraged to stay home, some outdoor recreation (hunting, fishing, golf, boating and hiking) is allowed, but no public gatherings are allowed and only travel deemed essential is allowed. Businesses permitted to operate in Phase 1 include: essential businesses, existing construction projects, landscaping, automobile sales, curbside retail pickup, car washes and pet walkers.
Twenty-five counties have moved or are moving to Phase 2, which allows more outdoor recreation, gatherings of up to five people, limited non-essential travel and more businesses to open, though restrictions still remain.
To apply for a variance, counties must have an average of less than 10 new cases per 100,000 residents over a 14-day period. With 35 confirmed cases in the past 14 days and a population of more than 229,000, according to 2019 U.S. Census estimates, Whatcom County averaged 15.3 new cases per 100,000 people the past 14 days as of Friday.
The application process requires support from the local health officer, the local board of health, local hospitals, and the county commission/council.
Each county must demonstrate they have adequate local hospital bed capacity as well as adequate PPE supplies to keep health care workers safe. The application must include plans for:
▪ Making testing available and accessible to everyone in the county with symptoms.
▪ Staffing case investigations and contact tracing.
▪ Housing people in isolation or quarantine who can’t or don’t want to do so at home.
▪ Providing case management services to those in isolation and quarantine.
▪ Responding rapidly to outbreaks in congregate settings.
The variance requests are reviewed by the secretary of health, who can approve the plans as submitted, approve with modifications or deny the application. If circumstances change within the jurisdiction, the variance can be revoked.
