Whatcom’s COVID-related hospitalization rate drops to lowest mark in more than 8 months

Whatcom County’s weekly COVID-related hospitalization rate dropped to its lowest mark since mid July, while its infection rate remained steady over the weekend.

The county has now seen 37,150 total COVID-19 cases (confirmed and probable combined) during the pandemic, including an increase of 52 reported cases last weekend, the Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 Data Dashboard reported on Monday, March 28. Additionally, Whatcom’s weekly hospitalization rate dropped to 2.2 new COVID-related patients per 100,000 residents for the most recently completed epidemiological data from March 13-19. The last time the county’s rate was that low was July 10-16.

St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham reported it was treating five COVID-related patients Tuesday, March 29, which was unchanged from Monday’s report. Over the past week, the hospital’s daily snapshot of COVID-related patients is 5.7 per day, which represents 2.3% of the 252 inpatient beds at the hospital.