Four more deaths linked to Whatcom’s COVID-19 omicron surge, while 474 new cases reported

Four more Whatcom County residents’ deaths have been linked to the county’s omicron surge in COVID-19 cases, according to the state, while 474 total new cases were reported Thursday.

The four deaths reported Thursday on the Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 Data Dashboard brought the county’s pandemic total to 222, including 21 reported since Jan. 1. All four deaths that were reported Thursday were people who had first tested positive for COVID-19 since the first of the year — two on Jan. 9 and one each on Jan. 7 and Jan. 16 — The Bellingham Herald’s analysis of the state’s epidemiological data found, bringing the county’s epidemiological death total for January to eight.

St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham reported it was treating 67 patients with COVID-related symptoms on Friday, Jan. 21, which was down three from its last report.