Weekend temps may top 100 in Whatcom, but county’s COVID infection rate isn’t anymore

The temperatures this weekend in parts of Whatcom County are forecast to reach triple digits, but the county’s COVID-19 infection rate is no longer that high.

For the first time in 216 days, Whatcom County’s two-week total of new confirmed cases per 100,000 residents has dropped below 100. Whatcom’s infection rate stood at 95.6, according to the state’s Risk Assessment dashboard Thursday, June 24, based on the state’s most recent complete epidemiological data between June 3 and 16.

The last time Whatcom saw an infection rate in double digits was Nov. 20 — nearly a month before the first COVID vaccine was administered in the county. Since then, the rate has climbed to as high as 530 on Jan. 26.

Whatcom County also saw 10 new confirmed COVID cases reported on the Washington State Department of Health’s coronavirus dashboard Thursday, but no new related hospitalizations or deaths.