The recent case rate of COVID-19 saw a slight increase after three weeks of decline in the latest data.
Clark County Public Health’s May 18 report included 17.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population over seven days, slightly up from the 17.2 per 100,000 reported the prior week.
The recent statewide case rate decreased though it remains higher than Clark County’s rate. As of May 18, Washington had 19.9 cases per 100,000 population, down from 24 per 100,000 the prior week.
Recent case rates lag behind the most recent counts of cases. The health department’s most recent case rate was based on activity from May 2 to May 8.
Clark County Public Health tallied 94 additional cases between May 11 and May 18, slightly more than the 87 recorded between May 4 and May 11. The county’s case total includes 113,664 confirmed and probable cases in Clark County since the outbreak began, although that number does not include at-home tests, which often go unreported.
Clark County Public Health’s May 18 report included three additional confirmed COVID-19 deaths since its report the prior week. On May 11, the health department reported four confirmed COVID-19 deaths.
The three additional COVID-19 deaths bring Clark County’s total to 1,048, which includes 898 confirmed and 150 suspected deaths.
The number of COVID-19 patients occupying hospital beds in Clark County saw an increase in the latest data. As of May 18, 15.2% of beds had either patients with confirmed COVID-19 or patients awaiting test results, more than the 14.7% reported on May 11. The number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and patients awaiting test results rose to 10.4%, compared to 8.7% from the prior week.
New COVID-19 hospital admissions increased from the prior week. In its May 18 report, the health department reported 3 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, more than the 2.4 per 100,000 the prior week.
Clark County’s share of COVID-19 cases stayed about the same statewide while its share of deaths decreased in the latest data. According to the Washington State Department of Health, the county had about 5.8% of cases and about 6.6% of deaths in Washington.
