Whatcom is 1 of 4 counties with high COVID-19 case counts, but hospitalization rate improves

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Whatcom County jumped by 42 and two more related hospitalizations were reported by the Washington State Department of Health’s coronavirus dashboard on Friday, May 21.

Overall, Whatcom County has seen 8,827 confirmed cases, 414 hospitalizations and 97 related deaths during the pandemic, according to state data. An additional 359 probable cases — up five from the last report — have been reported in Whatcom County during the pandemic, resulting from positive antigen tests not confirmed by a molecular test.

With the 42 new cases reported Friday, Whatcom County’s daily average of new reported cases over the past week decreased to 27.9, according to an analysis by The Bellingham Herald, lower than the 34.1 average from one week earlier (May 8-14).