Whatcom County schools had four COVID outbreaks during September, state report shows
Whatcom County schools had four COVID-19 outbreaks during the month of September that had 50 cases associated with them, according to data released Friday, Oct. 29, by the Washington State Department of Health.
The COVID-19 Outbreaks in Washington State K-12 Schools report showed that Whatcom’s outbreaks were part of 189 outbreaks impacting 1,284 people statewide so far during the 2021-22 school year.
Snohomish County had the highest number of outbreaks (74) and associated cases (540), though 18 counties had at least one outbreak.
“While we never want to see an outbreak occur in a school setting, the relatively small size of outbreaks is an indication that schools are working very hard to respond when there are cases among students, teachers, and staff,” Deputy Secretary of Health Lacy Fehrenbach said in a news release with the report. “Getting young children vaccinated as soon as we are able will add the strongest protection possible. Everyone who is able to get vaccinated should do so now to offer protection to young kids who are not yet eligible.”
Though other counties had more outbreaks and more associated cases, Whatcom’s average of 12.5 cases per outbreak was the highest in the state, The Bellingham Herald’s analysis of the state data showed.
The report also showed:
▪ 147 of the 189 outbreaks occurred in the month of September. Whatcom County had no outbreaks in August, according to the previous report.
▪ The median size of an outbreak was five individuals, though the average size impacted nearly seven people.
▪ Approximately 6% of all schools in the state have experienced a COVID outbreak since the beginning of the school year.
▪ 167 outbreaks so far this year occurred in public schools, while 22 were in private schools.
▪ 120 outbreaks were in elementary schools, 48 were in middle schools or junior highs and 55 were in high schools.
▪ The median age of people impacted by outbreaks in schools was 12.
The Department of Health has changed its definition of an outbreak for this school year, raising the threshold for the number of cases from two epidemiologically linked (last year’s definition) to either at least three cases of 10% or a specified core group (such as an extracurricular group or activity, a cohort group or classroom).
Whatcom school outbreaks
The Whatcom County Health Department previously reported an outbreak at Lynden Christian on Sept. 29, after the school reported 48 cases to the health department. Additionally, the school reported more than 100 students stayed home with COVID-like symptoms, the health department reported.
That outbreak resulted in the school being closed for two weeks, though the high school was able to return after a week’s closure.
The health department declined The Herald’s request to identify where the other three outbreaks in Whatcom County schools occurred.
“With outbreaks, we communicate about specific locations of exposure when there is risk to the general public or when we can’t notify or identify specific close contacts,’ health department spokesperson Jennifer Moon said in a statement emailed to The Herald.
As of Thursday, Oct. 28, the Bellingham, Blaine, Lynden, Meridian and Mount Baker school districts had reported 376 total cases on school district property so far this school year. Based on enrollment data for those five districts from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, that is an average of approximately 17.3 cases per 1,000 students.
Of the 376 cases reported by those five districts, 151 were in elementary schools, 81 were in junior highs or middle schools, 116 were in high schools and 28 were in other district programs or facilities.
▪ Bellingham Public Schools: 100 total cases (40 in elementary schools, 25 in middle schools and 33 in high schools) and an average of 8.3 cases per 1,000 students.
▪ Blaine School District: 82 total cases (22 in elementary school, 12 in middle school and 30 in high school) and an average of 35.3 cases per 1,000 students.
▪ Lynden School District: 140 total cases (62 in elementary schools, 28 in middle school and 41 in high school) and an average of 38.6 cases per 1,000 students.
▪ Meridian School District: 21 cases (8 in elementary school, 6 in middle school and 6 in high school) and an average of 11.5 cases per 1,000 students.
▪ Mount Baker School District: 33 cases (19 in elementary schools, 5 in junior high and 6 in high school) and an average of 17.8 cases per 1,000 students.
The Ferndale School District’s COVID update does not include data in a way that a case total can be computed and the Nooksack Valley School District is not publishing COVID data on its website.
Youth vaccines coming
According to a Tribune News Service report, “Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE’s COVID-19 vaccine was cleared by U.S. regulators for children ages 5 to 11, a long-awaited pandemic milestone that opens a new phase of the immunization campaign.
“The emergency authorization, announced Friday in a statement by the Food and Drug Administration, brings the U.S. a step closer to shots being administered at schools, pediatricians’ offices and pharmacies around the country. The formulation for young kids is one-third the dose of the adult shot.
“Before youngsters can begin to receive the vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s immunization advisory committee will also meet to make more specific recommendations about who should get it and how to administer it. The panel is currently scheduled to convene on Nov. 2 and 3. CDC director Rochelle Walensky will then need to sign off on the advisers’ guidance.
“The FDA’s action on Friday allows shipments of the doses to begin — the first time the U.S. has distributed anything other than the regular Pfizer dose for teens and adults. The shipments would position the shots at pediatricians’ offices, pharmacies and other locations across the country so that inoculations can begin promptly after any CDC clearance.”
