Despite large COVID case increases, most Whatcom regions see encouraging signs

Though all seven school district regions in Whatcom County saw at least triple-digit increases in COVID-19 cases, there were signs that parts of the county may be beginning to turn the corner on the omicron surge.

Three of the seven regions — the regions covered by the Bellingham, Meridian and Mount Baker school districts — saw their two week infection rates decrease from last week, according to the Whatcom County Health Department’s latest location data released on Thursday, Jan. 27. The other four regions at least saw their rate of growth slow.

Two-week COVID-related hospitalization rates also dropped in four of the seven regions and remained steady in a fifth, the county’s data showed. St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham reported it was treating 58 patients with COVID-related symptoms on Friday, Jan. 28, which was down three from its last report.