Whatcom County schools reported 15 COVID-19 outbreaks during fall, state report shows

Whatcom County schools saw 15 COVID-19 outbreaks involving a total of 126 cases before leaving for the winter break last fall, according to the latest report from the Washington State Department of Health.

In all, 13% of Whatcom County schools saw outbreaks during fall classes, matching the statewide average, the COVID-19 Outbreaks in Washington State K-12 Schools report released Tuesday, Feb. 1, stated. Outbreaks are defined as multiple COVID-19 cases involving at least 10% of students, teachers or staff within a specified group within a school or three or more cases within a specified group that have the onset of symptoms within 14 days of each other and are epidemiologically linked to a school setting.

Whatcom schools have mirrored the rest of the community during the omicron surge, as there had already been 1,606 cases reported since the return from winter break by the Bellingham, Blaine, Lynden, Meridian, Mount Baker and Nooksack Valley school districts as of Wednesday, Feb. 1, The Herald’s analysis showed. Infections rates for the first month since winter break were 61.4 cases per 1,000 students at the elementary level, 74.7 in middle and high schools and 73.0 in high schools.