Clark County's weekend COVID-19 case total lowest of the year

Amy Libby, The Columbian, Vancouver, Wash.
·3 min read

Jun. 28—Clark County Public Health reported the lowest weekend total for positive COVID-19 cases in 2021 — 62 probable and confirmed cases for an average of less than 21 cases per day since Friday.

On Monday, the agency reported 54 cases confirmed by molecular (PCR) testing, for a total of 24,400, and eight probable cases identified by antigen testing, for a total of 1,536 in the first update since Friday. No new deaths were reported over the weekend. The county's death toll is at 284 since the first deaths were reported in early March 2020. Five deaths were reported last week.

The June 21 report, which included four days of cases due to the holiday weekend, included 111 cases; June 14 saw 116 cases; and June 7 saw 161.

Clark County averaged about 24.4 cases per day last week.

Public Health said Monday that there are currently 166 active COVID-19 cases — confirmed and probable cases still in their isolation period — in the county, down from 184 on Friday

There are 21 people hospitalized for COVID-19, along with one person waiting on a test. On Friday, Public Health said 23 people were hospitalized, with one person waiting on test results.

Vaccine Information in Clark County

Anyone age 16 or older is eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and anyone age 12 or older is eligible to be get the Pfizer vaccine, though a parent or legal guardian must accompany minors ages 12 to 15. Underage teens are advised to check with vaccination sites regarding parental consent.

Vaccinations are available without an appointment in Clark County, including at the Tower Mall vaccination site, 5403 E. Mill Plain Blvd. in Vancouver, though it will close Tuesday.

More information about opportunities for vaccination is available on Clark County Public Health's COVID-19 vaccine information website. Appointments at a number of locations throughout Clark County can be scheduled through the Washington Department of Health Vaccine Locator. Those who do not have internet access or need help scheduling an appointment can call Public Health 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 888-225-4625. Call center representatives can assist with scheduling. Language assistance is available.

Data for Clark County and the state show that COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19 infections, as well as hospitalizations and deaths. According to county data, there were only 124 cases of COVID-19 in vaccinated people reported as of May 25, the same day the county reported a total of 24,327 COVID-19 cases, meaning that 99.49 percent of all reported cases to that date were among people who were not fully vaccinated.

An analysis by the Associated Press this week found that nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. now are in people who weren't vaccinated. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the news agency found that only about 150 of the more than 18,000 COVID-19 deaths in May were in fully vaccinated people.

Currently, licensed hospital beds are 75.3 percent occupied in Clark County, with ICU beds at 80.3 percent. Some 3.8 percent of licensed hospital beds in Clark County are occupied by COVID-19 patients.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, the state has seen 450,404 probable and confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. As of Saturday, the death toll in the state was at 5,902. Some 7.5 million tests have been given and more than 7.7 million vaccine doses have been administered.