One Whatcom region would be in CDC’s ‘high’ COVID community level, while 3 others ‘medium’
One Whatcom County region would find itself with a “high” COVID-19 community level for the first time if the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention boiled risk levels down the school district level, while three others would be in the “medium” range after last week.
The area covered by the Lynden School District would receive a “high” grade based on its weekly COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates, The Bellingham Herald’s analysis of the latest location data released Thursday, May 26, by the Whatcom County Health Department found. It is the first time since mid March, when the CDC began using its current criteria to assess COVID community levels, that Lynden has received anything above a “medium.”
The regions covered by the Bellingham, Blaine and Ferndale school districts would all fall in the “medium” range, The Herald found, as all three, along with Lynden, had infection rates of more than 200 new cases last week per 100,000 residents. Lynden also had a weekly COVID-related hospitalization rate of more than 10 new patients per 100,000 residents — the only region within Whatcom County with a rate that high.
The Meridian, Mount Baker and Nooksack Valley regions, meanwhile, all received “low” risk levels. With Lynden’s “high” rating, Nooksack Valley is now the only region within the county that has had a “low” rating every week.
As a whole, Whatcom County received a “medium” community level ranking from the CDC with its latest update on Friday, May 27. It is the second time in four weeks Whatcom has received a “medium” rating and the first time since May 5.
To be classified in the “low” level by the CDC, counties must have:
▪ Fewer than 200 new cases per 100,000 residents in the past seven days.
▪ Fewer than 10 new COVID-related hospitalizations per 100,000 residents in the past seven days.
▪ Less than 10% of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.
While masking is recommended for everyone for counties with “high” community levels, the CDC only recommends face coverings only for those who are at high risk of serious complications from COVID and those who could expose those at high risk for counties in the “medium” range. Masking in most indoor situations is not included among the CDC’s recommended guidelines for communities in the “low” level.
At every level, the CDC says people “can wear a mask based on personal preference” and should wear a mask if they have COVID symptoms, test positive or have possible exposure.
As of Thursday, St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham reported it was treating 13 COVID-related patients. That would give it an average of 11.6 COVID-related patients per day over the past week (May 17-23) — it’s highest weekly patient count since March 8 when it was 12.4, but still 4.6% of the hospital’s 252 inpatient beds.
Overall, five of the seven regions saw their weekly infection rates increase, The Herald found, while weekly hospitalization rates increased in only one region.
Here is what the health department’s latest data showed for the seven regions in the county for the week of May 8-14:
▪ Bellingham: Had 391 new cases, seven new hospitalizations and one new death reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 17,044 cases, 549 hospitalizations and 145 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 293 cases per 100,000 residents was up from 253 one week earlier.
▪ Blaine: Had 38 new cases, no new hospitalizations and one new death reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 3,396 cases, 125 hospitalizations and 24 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 215 cases per 100,000 residents was up from 198 one week earlier.
▪ Ferndale: Had 81 new cases, three new hospitalizations and one new death reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 7,394 cases, 338 hospitalizations and 53 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 240 cases per 100,000 residents was down from 246 one week earlier.
▪ Lynden: Had 48 new cases, three new hospitalizations and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 5,549 cases, 268 hospitalizations and 38 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 232 cases per 100,000 residents was up from 135 one week earlier.
▪ Meridian: Had 19 new cases, no new hospitalizations and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 1,875 cases, 82 hospitalizations and 13 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 161 cases per 100,000 residents was unchanged from one week earlier.
▪ Mount Baker: Had 29 new cases, one new hospitalization and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 2,193 cases, 125 hospitalizations and 17 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 193 cases per 100,000 residents was up from 179 one week earlier.
▪ Nooksack Valley: Had 19 new cases, no new hospitalizations and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 2,642 cases, 113 hospitalizations and 13 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 176 cases per 100,000 residents was up from 139 one week earlier.
