Coronavirus in Washington: Positivity rates, cases, deaths all trending downward

Things are looking better to those of us who track the rise and fall of COVID-19 cases in earnest. 

Daily confirmed case counts, hospitalizations and deaths have all dropped since spiking over the summer. The percentage of positive test results, averaged over a week, stood at about 3.3% in early September. That figure spiked to nearly 6% in mid-July, according to state data. The state’s goal is 2%.

“We are pleased to see the testing positivity rate come down. We know the number of cases are decreasing across the state,” said Dr. Cathy Wasserman, a state epidemiologist with the Department of Health (DOH), who added that people must remain vigilant, keep their distance and avoid gatherings. “Human behavior is driving transmission changes.”