Whatcom County surpasses 37,000 total COVID-19 cases during pandemic and adds a death

Whatcom County surpassed 37,000 total COVID-19 cases during the pandemic and had a new COVID-related death reported by the state in Wednesday’s update.

The county now has had 37,040 total COVID cases (confirmed and probable combined), which have resulted in 287 deaths, the Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 Data Dashboard reported on March 23. The new death replaces one that was taken away in Monday’s update, after the state reconciled and adjusted data.

Whatcom saw 57 total new COVID cases reported Wednesday, which was enough to push its pandemic total past 37,000. Meanwhile, St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham reported it was treating six COVID-related patients Thursday, March 24, which was unchanged from Wednesday’s report and down one from Tuesday. Over the past week, the hospital’s daily snapshot of COVID-related patients is 5.3 per day, which represents 2.1% of the 252 inpatient beds at the hospital.